The XV of France faces Wales on Saturday (9 p.m.) in a friendly match.

The Blues have not played together since March, and the cessation of the Six Nations Tournament because of the coronavirus.

Seven months later, coach Fabien Galthié decided to trust the same players.

But with a very busy schedule, he will have to adapt.

They had parted on March 8, after a defeat at Murrayfield in Scotland (28-17).

Seven months later, the players of the XV of France meet to face Wales on Saturday (9 p.m.), in a Stade de France which will sound very hollow, behind closed doors.

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The same team as against England

For the match against the Welsh, coach Fabien Galthié has renewed confidence in his players.

The aligned team is the same one that won a benchmark match against England (24-17), at the opening of the Tournament.

Teddy Thomas is making a noticeable return to the wing, even though he has played very little with Racing since the start of the season, and Gaël Fickou has started in the center.

The coach also chose to start the meeting with the mainstay Mohammed Haouas, who had been sent off against Scotland, for a punch.

"It is a team that is growing and which, by playing together, will acquire a form of individual and collective maturity. Our project is our vision, it is our ambition", explained the boss of the Blues.

But the coach will have to adapt

But the continuity that obsesses Fabien Galthié will be turned upside down.

He will indeed have to deal with the sling of the Top 14 clubs, who have obtained that a player can not play more than three international matches out of the six planned, in order to be available the rest of the time for the French championship. .

A struggle for influence between the Federation and the clubs suffered by the Internationals.

"I said last week that we had our ass between two chairs. It's a political question that the players simply do not have to interfere. What is important is that we are reunited today, that we take pleasure in playing all together, ”says scrum half Baptiste Serin.

A very busy schedule for the Blues

By early December, the XV will have a very busy schedule, with six matches on the schedule.

But at the rate of increasing restrictions, linked to the health crisis, it is impossible to know if the program will be maintained.

So, when we ask the coaches Fabien Galthié, if he has the impression of moving forward in the fog, he kicks in touch: "Look at the weather. We've been bathed in the sun for three days. We are ready, I repeat. Since taking office, we have not stopped working, analyzing. We are not in the fog. Everything is clear for us, "he says.

"We have not lost anything in terms of rooming, so that's a good point", also smiles Baptiste Serin.

"More seriously, I'm very happy to find the group. We feel that there are still a lot of smiles, a lot of expectations also from the first game, to play together again. In quotes, it's a lot of jokes between us, so c 'is good, that has not changed. We are on the continuation of the last tournament. We are happy to be here and happy to bring the jersey together, "he continues.

After Saturday's preparatory match against Wales, the Habs will host Ireland, to play the late match of the last Six Nations Tournament.

They will then tackle the Autumn Nations Cup, a sort of autumn tour, with Fiji, Scotland, Italy and finally a classification match.

The calendar of the XV of France

Saturday 24 October, 9 p.m.

France - Wales (friendly match)

Saturday October 31, 9 p.m.

France - Ireland (Six Nations Tournament)

Sunday November 15th

France - Fiji (Autumn Nations Cup)

Sunday 22 November

Scotland - France

Saturday November 28 

France - Italy

Saturday 5 December

Ranking match