Marcoussis (France) (AFP)
Free day for the Blues. The XV of France launched its week of preparation for the match against Scotland with a day of rest on Monday, which also saw the return of fourteen players, including Racingman Camille Chat, to Marcoussis.
They were 28, they are now 42: the French team is complete Monday evening with the arrival of fourteen new players to complete the group. There are ghosts, such as the hooker Camille Chat (hit with adductors after the victory in Wales) or the pillar Dorian Aldegheri (injured in the left knee before the first rally), and newcomers, like the pillar Clément Castets, called for the first time.
This return could allow Camille Chat to find a place in the group of 23, which will be revealed on Friday.
The La Rochelle winger Arthur Retière, best test scorer in the Top 14, the third line of Castres Anthony Jelonch or the Toulouse winger Lucas Tauzin are again convened.
The Toulousains are now in force since ten Rouge et Noir players (Ntamack, Dupont, Tauzin, Aldegheri, Ramos, Baille, Castets, Marchand, Mauvaka, Cros) are present at Marcoussis.
Sunday, 800 people had braved the cold and bad weather to observe the training of the XV of France, an opposition against the Hopes of the French Stadium, led by the former captain of the Blues Pascal Papé (65 selections).
In this opposition, coach Fabien Galthié launched right wing Clermont winger Damian Penaud, recovered from his left calf injury which cost him the first three matches of the Tournament, and confirmed the usual center Gaël Fickou on the left .
A trend that would send Teddy Thomas on the bench, even in the stands. The Racingman could thus pay for its defensive shortcomings against Wales (27-23).
The Blues are reunited at 42 until Friday, when Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez will announce the list of 23 who will travel to Edinburgh, where the XV of France has not won since 2014.
Apart from Ireland-Italy, already postponed, this trip to Edinburgh and the other matches of the Tournament are maintained "for now" despite the epidemic of new coronavirus, told AFP a spokeswoman for the Six Nations committee in margin of an organizers meeting. But no final decision should be made on Monday, the source said.
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