XV of France: Fabien Galthié and his staff are banking on continuity against Scotland

In Marcoussis

Those who were calling for fresh blood after the inaugural rout against Ireland (17-38) will be disappointed. No change of hinge, no modification of the pair of centers. Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, Jonathan Danty and Gaël Fickou will, in all likelihood, be brought back to face Scotland this Saturday (3:15 p.m.) in Edinburgh.

Launch Nolann Le Garrec behind the scrum, reposition Thomas Ramos at the opening, offer a first selection at the center of the UBB, Nicolas Depoortère, flamboyant since his title of U20 world champion, it is not for the moment according to the game of chasubles, this Tuesday in Marcoussis.

Among the entrants, one was needed to replace Paul Willemse in the second row, suspended after his red card received in Marseille. Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou and Romain Taofifenua forfeited, the choice fell on Cameron Woki, more experienced and more aerial (the Blues experienced a lot of difficulties in touch against Ireland) rather than Posolo Tuilagi. The 19-year-old phenomenon will come off the bench to bring his power during the match given his ideal impact player profile. The Gabrillagues-Woki team, aligned at the start of the match, will lack weight, but the risk seems assumed by the selectors.

Another change, this time on the wing, where Louis Bielle-BIarrey should regain his starting status won during the World Cup to the detriment of his UBB teammate, Yoram Moefana. His speed is, this time, favored by the qualities of a center fighter repositioned on the wing.

For the rest, the players beaten in Marseille are brought back, including Peato Mauvaka as hooker, a switch with his Toulouse teammate Julien Marchand having been studied before giving it up. However, he will still appoint a replacement on the bench for La Rochelle pillar Reda Wardi, who suffered a broken hand against Ireland and was absent for four months. It should be the Lyonnais Sébastien Taofifenua, who wore the no. 17 chasuble.

Fabien Galthié and his staff are therefore banking on revolt. Like last year when, after being beaten in Ireland, the Blues won their next three matches, achieving a historic triumph against England at Twickenham (10-53). A scenario evoked in the locker rooms of the Vélodrome after the debacle by the captain, Grégory Alldritt.

“As Fabien said, we are unanimous in saying that this is not our French team. Posolo (Tuilagi) and Nolann (Le Garrec) you will help us and, all together, we will raise the bar as we were able to do last year in the Tournament, where we came out with great matches following,” he proclaims. the Rochelais in a sequence of the new episode of “Mixed Destinies” broadcast by the FFR.

On Monday, the coach in charge of the forwards, William Servat, justified this choice of continuity. “You should always expect small adjustments, but our selection principle is based on trust. We have confidence in our players, we know that our players are competitors, they have self-esteem. To brush all this aside would be a mistake. (…) Trust is not broken. Don’t expect huge changes.” Only two in the starting XV therefore, including one forced.

Ramos - Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey - Jalibert, Lucu - Alldritt (cap), Ollivon, Cros - Gabrillagues, Woki - Atonio, Mauvaka, Baille.