Ahead of France’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, here is how we think Fabien Galthié‘s side could line up.
Les Bleus head to the Principality Stadium as heavy favourites, as a result of both Wales’ recent Six Nations woes but also their own form following a strong win in round one.
Galthié’s side romped to a dominant 36-14 win over Ireland in the opening match last Thursday night, laying down a genuine marker of their title credentials in the process, and they will be out to make it two from two this weekend.
But there are a few injury issues for the head coach to contend with ahead of the trip, with Nicolas Depoortère sidelined with a calf issue, while Yoram Moefana is also struggling with a knee issue. On the bright side, though, the likes of Thibaud Flament, Paul Boudehent and Émilien Gailleton are back in contention after missing the opening round.
Enforced changes
The aforementioned injuries to last week’s starting centres will lead to a couple of changes in the backline. Pau midfielder Gailleton seems a certainty to come straight in for Depoortère at 13, but 12 is possibly a bigger headache.
Stade Francais’ Noah Nene is certainly an option and given he has been involved in the senior squad for some time now, he could be given that elusive first cap. Pau fly-half Axel Desperes has also played in the centre for the France U20s and this could be a good way of blooding him at Test level without the sheer expectation of playing at 10 straight away.
However, the most likely option is Fabien Brau-Boirie. The Pau player has enjoyed a really strong domestic season, scoring nine tries in his 15 outings thus far, and offers that unique dual-threat of genuine power in the carry and deft handling that France are after.
This could also be a proper look into the future, with Brau-Boirie still only 20-years-old, but bringing him into a familiar unit alongside clubmate Gailleton and then Théo Attissogbe outside will just give him that extra bit of support to thrive at the Principality.
Elsewhere, though, you would expect the backline to remain the same, with Thomas Ramos, Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Matthieu Jalibert and Antoine Dupont keeping their places.
Baptiste Serin should retain his spot on the bench, while Romain Buros is a possible option to wear 23 after Kalvin Gourgues dropped out of the wider squad.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Roll the dice?
Galthié is in a really unique position when it comes to his pack, with any of his current 24-man forward grouping capable of playing the style he wants. This Test against Wales, though, allows him to see how those who missed out against Ireland can function in it, or does he stick to what worked? It’s a tough balancing act.
On the one hand, France’s pack seemed incredibly settled last time out, far more settled than they have been in recent outings given the mass rotation of the wider squad, but yet this is as good a chance as any this Six Nations to mix things up.
Looking at it now, Les Bleus will likely keep things the same, even with the returns of Flament and Boudehent. Some members of that starting pack from last week, Mickaël Guillard, Julien Marchand and Oscar Jegou for example, are simply undroppable after their efforts against Ireland, while the likes of François Cros, Charles Ollivon and Anthony Jelonch also played a key role in the success of the pack given their industrious work around the park.
Galthié could be tempted to deploy a 7:1 split on the bench to fit in the returning duo, but you feel he will save that for later down the line. The bench, though, could be a good way to bring Flament back into the fold, while Cyril Baille could also make a return here alongside the existing unit of Peato Mauvaka, Georges-Henri Colombe, Emmanuel Meafou and Lenni Nouchi.
France predicted team in full
Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Théo Attissogbe, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Romain Buros