Marcoussis (France) (AFP)

A strong choice for a "final".

Coach Fabien Galthié has decided to opt for the experience by establishing Gaël Fickou, usual center, as a winger for the shock against Ireland on Saturday, decisive for the 2020 Six Nations Tournament.

Defense captain, Fickou is, with 56 caps, the most experienced player called up by Fabien Galthié and his staff.

It is therefore not surprising that the Stade Français player comes to play the service firefighters when facing the 4th world nation for the "final" of the 2020 Six Nations Tournament.

Irish (1st, 14 points), English (2nd, 13 points) and French (3rd, 13 points) are indeed opposed in a three-way and long-distance duel.

The XV of the Rose seems to hold the rope since it moves to Italy, last in the standings and which has not won in the Tournament since February 28, 2015 and a narrow success in front of Scotland (22-19) .

To win their first title since the Grand Slam of 2010, the data is relatively simple for the Blues: they will therefore have to do better than the English in Rome, who are slightly ahead of them on the difference in points (+15 against +13).

No more calculations, Fickou is shifted from center to wing to replace Racingman Teddy Thomas, who was injured in the hamstrings.

Clermontois Damian Penaud (24, 17 caps) is also injured and will not return until mid-November.

"I rarely play a winger. It's occasional. It's when I'm asked to play (in this position) to help the team, otherwise my favorite position is center. In the league, I've always played center so there is no question in relation to that. After, if it is necessary to troubleshoot I do it but my usual position is center, "he explained recently to AFP.

- Bouthier fit, Retière replacing -

It was necessary to troubleshoot and it was Fickou who took the flocked jersey of the N.11, as he had already done at the beginning of the year, against Wales and Scotland.

For the rest, it is an identical starting XV (25 years old and 16 selections on average) to the one who dominated the Welsh (38-21) less than a week ago and articulated around the 100% Toulouse hinge formed by Antoine Dupont (23 years old, 25 caps) and Romain Ntamack (21 years old, 17 caps).

The tenure of Fickou allows Arthur Vincent (21 years old, 5 caps) to regain his place in the center.

The Montpellier driver will be associated with Racingman Virimi Vakatawa (28 years old, 25 caps) to reform the explosive and efficient pair of the last two matches of the 2020 Tournament.

Behind, the Montpellier Anthony Bouthier (28 years old, 5 selections), who only resumed training on Thursday, has recovered from his concussion and will be well titular.

The first line Cyril Baille (27 years old, 21 selections) - Julien Marchand (25 years old, 7 selections) - Mohamed Haouas (26 years old, 5 selections) is renewed, as is the essential 100% Springbok second line formed by Bernard Le Roux (31 years old, 42 sel.) And Paul Willemse (Montpellier, 27 years old, 10 sel.).

Finally, the formidable Grégory Alldritt (23 years old, 16 selections) will be supervised by captain Charles Ollivon (27 years old, 16 selections) and the precious François Cros (26 years old, 7 selections) in third row.

Composition of the XV of France against Ireland: Bouthier - Rattez, Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cros - Willemse, Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Yawning

Replacements: Cat, Gros, Bamba, Taofifenua, Cretin, Serin, Retière, Ramos

Reservists: Reazel, Mauvaka, Pesenti, Jalibert, Villière

© 2020 AFP