![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2286651445.jpg.webp\")
While relying on a solid spine of ageing players, Rassie Erasmus has been unafraid to throw in young, inexperience players into the Test cauldron (Photo David Rogers\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
As former Springboks Breyton Paulse put it: \u201cWhen I was playing\u2026newcomers were often told they were too green, with lots to learn. But that\u2019s not the scene anymore. These youngsters are stepping into a robust team environment that\u2019s ripe for them to just fit in and flourish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fabien Galthi\u00e9 could do with a dash of Rassie\u2019s daring. Last week the France<\/a> coach announced the 42 players for next month\u2019s second round of Nations Championship games and there was a jaded feel to some of the selections in the forwards.<\/p>\n Galthi\u00e9 has made some bold calls in recent seasons in the backs \u2013 the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Th\u00e9o Attissogbe \u2013 but he\u2019s much less trusting of youth up front. The only youngster who\u2019s established himself in the pack since the last World Cup is Oscar Jegou, the rangy 23-year-old flanker from La Rochelle.<\/p>\n The World Cup is still a year away. The four Tests next month are the perfect opportunity to let loose some bolters.<\/p>\n The World Cup is still a year away. The four Tests next month are the perfect opportunity to let loose some bolters. Instead Galthi\u00e9 has recalled the La Rochelle loose forward pair of Gr\u00e9gory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent after a year\u2019s absence. He\u2019s also selected two injury-prone thirty somethings in Charles Ollivon and Fran\u00e7ois Cros. Both are fine players, as is Cameron Woki, another veteran who will be in Australia<\/a> next year.<\/p>\n True, there were a couple of youngsters among the loose forwards selected \u2013 Esteban Capilla and Marko Gazzotti \u2013 but the latter has had to withdraw because of an injury picked up playing for Bordeaux<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n Who has Galthi\u00e9 called up? The 30-year-old Anthony Jelonch, who has barely played any rugby this season after recovering from one of the many injuries that have bedevilled his career in recent years.<\/p>\n Why didn\u2019t Galthi\u00e9 call on Th\u00e9o Ntamack, the dynamic Toulouse No8 and the younger brother of Romain? Ntamack has started the season strongly. He\u2019s playing with greater maturity and intelligence, and is more rounded as a result. \u201cHis physical presence on the ball is a huge boost for us,\u201d said Jean Bouilhou, Toulouse\u2019s forward coach, last week. \u201cAnd defensively, he\u2019s put in the work. That\u2019s what we ask of him too \u2013 not just to be involved when he has the ball. He\u2019s worked hard on those aspects.\u201d<\/p>\n Then there is the raw power provided by the Clermont<\/a> blindside, Kevin Noah, yet another player to have come through the Massy<\/a> finishing school in the Parisian suburbs. The 25-year-old was outstanding last week in defeat to Leinster. As Clermont\u2019s local paper remarked: \u201cNoah was the only forward to give Clermont the upper hand as he went head-to-head with the Irish players.\u201d<\/p>\n Another exciting but inexperienced French flanker is Antoine Deliance. There\u2019s a touch of the Henry Pollock to the 21-year-old Deliance \u2013 at least in style and physique.<\/p>\n Noah, all 6ft 2 and 19 \u00bd stones of him, has huge potential. It should be tapped by Galthi\u00e9; one suspect Erasmus would have capped him by now.<\/p>\n Another exciting but inexperienced French flanker is Antoine Deliance. There\u2019s a touch of the Henry Pollock to the 21-year-old Deliance \u2013 at least in style and physique. The pair are both 6ft 2in and tip the scales at 15 \u00bd stone.<\/p>\n![\"Th\u00e9o](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2299218389.jpg.webp\")
Th\u00e9o Ntamack, younger brother of Romain, has been showing up well for Toulouse<\/a> as a dynamic ball-carrying No 8 but no place in the French squad was found for him(Photo Matthieu RONDEL\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
![\"Charles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2266046914.jpg.webp\")
Galthie is looking like he will rely on his veterans, like Charles Ollivon, Fran\u00e7ois Cros and Anthony Jelonch but they have all had long-term injuries (Photo FRANCK FIFE\/Getty Images<\/p>\n