Nice (AFP)

Bad time for the Blues. The XV of France lost its titular hooker Camille Chat, injured in a calf and forced to forfeit Monday, less than a week from the first match of the Six Nations Tournament against England.

Bad news that makes two happy: the young Racing 92 player Teddy Baubigny (21), called for the first time in the France team, and the Toulouse Julien Marchand (24, 2 selections), who should start the shock face to the English ogre.

For Chat, on the other hand, it is disappointment. Staying in the shadow of the former Blues captain Guilhem Guirado for four years, the hooker of Racing 92 was finally going to take this place of N.2 which awaits him, with a first big test against the powerful English pack.

"My status has changed, that's for sure. Already, it's no longer the captain, my competitor. Guilhem Guirado has stopped so, inevitably, there is a place available. And I hope as much time as possible game, "Chat said a few days ago.

"I know that, with Julien Marchand and Peato Mauvaka, there is a very big competition. It is up to me to show myself, to prove. It is an eternal restart. We must always prove, show that we can take on the jersey of holder, "he said.

Chat, brilliant for a few weeks, was one of the keystones of the French system facing the XV of the Rose. Now, only Cyril Baille (26, 17 caps) and Jefferson Poirot (27, 33 caps) have more than ten capes in the front row.

From the top of his 7 selections, Demba Bamba (21) is almost an alumni alongside the neophytes Mohamed Haouas and Baubigny.

It is the third package in three days for France, which has already lost the third line of Lyon Dylan Cretin and the back of the French stadium Kylan Hamdaoui.

- Merchant holder? -

These two players were replaced respectively by Bordeaux Alexandre Roumat and Montpellier Yvan Reilhac.

For Marchand, on the other hand, it is an express return. Almost a resurrection. The captain of Toulouse was indeed injured, on February 1, 2019, for his second cape, facing Wales. Rupture of the cruciate ligaments, season ended.

A halt that made him miss the Top 14 final and the Japanese World Cup. A year and a day later, he should therefore have his first tenure in Blue.

But no question of talking about revenge. "Revenge is not a beautiful word. I'm just very happy to be there and, above all, to relive this adventure which had been very brief almost a year ago. I'm very happy to be there, with everyone, there is a very good atmosphere, with lots of guys with whom we played as young people ", he confided thus there is little.

Returning to its best level, Marchand will experience his first real test, the fruit of his hard work and selflessness. Proof of the importance and talent of the Toulousain, his name had been mentioned to become captain of the XV of France after the World Cup. The applicant had preferred to withdraw from himself, not believing himself legitimate.

"I was not legitimate. I still am not. I did not even make a match in terms of minutes. I played forty minutes (came into play in the 58th against Fiji, in the 69th against Wales, editor's note) in two selections. So there you have it ... the minutes speak, "he explains simply and directly.

The XV of France is gathered in Nice until January 31. The composition of the team that will start the match against the English will be announced on January 30.

© 2020 AFP