Hard blow for the Blues before going to Cardiff with the packages of the Clermont winger and the second line of Lyon, positive for Covid. Haouas returns as a substitute, Lebel joins the group as a finisher.
A group amputated by two players to challenge Wales on Friday (9 p.m.) at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Fabien Galthié unveiled this Wednesday the team that will challenge the Leek XV on the occasion of the fourth day of the Six Nations Tournament. And the coach of the Blues has announced that winger Damian Penaud and second-line Romain Taofifenua have tested positive for Covid, so they are forfeited and placed in solitary confinement. On a wing of the XV of France, Damian Penaud is replaced by Yoram Moefana, author of good performances in this Tournament.
Moreover, as seen this week during high-intensity training, RC Toulon winger Gabin Villière, who suffered a sinus fracture against Ireland and missed the trip to Scotland, regains a incumbent.
Read alsoXV of France: from forgotten to essential, the rebirth of Jonathan Danty
The other small uncertainties concerned Antoine Dupont and Gaël Fickou. The scrum half and captain of the XV of France had to cut short his training Tuesday at Marcoussis after receiving a blow to the biceps. But more fear than harm, the best player in the world will hold his place in Cardiff. At the hinge, he will be associated with his usual partner Romain Ntamack.
Three wins in a row against Wales
Gaël Fickou, slightly flu, had not participated in Tuesday’s training session but he will be well aligned in the center of the attack of the Blues, with Jonathan Danty. Also seized during the week, Grégory Alldritt, the powerful French number 8, is also on the bridge. He will form a third shock line alongside Toulouse flankers Anthony Jelonch and François Cros. In the pack, Cameron Woki is again established in the second line, with Paul Willemse.
On the bench of substitutes – these famous “finishers” -, Fabien Galthié and his staff had to adapt after the detection of two cases of Covid and they decided to change and place five forwards and three backs. We thus find the hooker Peato Mauvaka, the pillars Jean-Baptiste Gros and Mohamed Haouas (who returns in place of Demba Bemba), the second line Thibaud Flament and the flanker Dylan Cretin to densify the pack during the match. The three backs are scrum-half Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos, who can cover for the fly-half or full-back position, and Matthis Lebel who could honor his second international cap.
The only team still in the running to achieve the Grand Slam in the Tournament – after its successes against Italy, Ireland and Scotland -, France remains on three victories against Wales since Fabien Galthié took office. (two in the Tournament, one in test-match in October 2020). Two years ago, the Blues won 27-23 at the Principality Stadium. Dreams of a first Grand Slam since 2010 hinge on further success in Cardiff, before challenging England at the Stade de France.
The composition of the XV of France:
Jaminet – Moefana, Fickou, Danty, Villière – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Jelonch, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Woki – Atonio, Marchand, Baille
Replacements: Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas, Flament, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos, Lebel
