Nice (AFP)

Only four changes: the coach of the XV of France Jacques Brunel preferred, Tuesday, bet on the continuity rather than proceed to a vast review of the troops, for the revenge against Scotland on Saturday in Edinburgh, second match of preparation to the Cup of the world in Japan (20 September-2 November).

The Gersois has somewhat surprised his world. First by announcing, with 48 hours ahead of schedule, the composition of the team that will try to confirm its initial success against the XV thistle, Saturday in Nice (32-3).

A choice justified by the desire to avoid leaks in the press, we learned from the management, and "to prepare in the best conditions the meeting", according to the statement of the Federation - Brunel will be present in front of the media only Thursday.

"We can already work with benchmarks on placements and races.We can be found from the training and refining the last details.And we to be precise in training, we will have no excuses," he said. pointed out the third line Charles Ollivon, which will follow at Murrayfield.

"After, we have been working together for a long time at 37. We knew that there would be choices: regarding pairs, placements, it is certain that a second match with live ammunition facilitates things but we do not forget the others who do not play, "Wesley Fofana added.

- Automatisms and confidence -

Second slight surprise, the low turnover compared to the first match, with the return of captain Guilhem Guirado (spared in Nice, hit the ribs), second line Felix Lambey, third line Arthur Iturria and back-scorer Thomas Ramos .

We could have expected a wider reshuffle, especially since Brunel had repeated Saturday night that he wanted to see "all players" by September 2 and the deadline set to reduce from 37 to 31 elements the group that will fly to the country of the rising sun.

So will remain for the absentees of the first two tests that the reception of Italy, August 30 at the Stade de France, to enhance. Sufficient?

But while the major nations, lapped for several years, can afford experiments to one month of the World Cup, the XV of France is forced to find forced forced automatisms, framework and confidence.

After major changes in his staff (arrival of Fabien Galthié) and its structures of play, in the wake of a six Nations Tournament disturbing.

Conducting a broad membership review would probably have weakened the team before finding, in a more hostile context, Scottish revanchists and better armed than the Allianz Riviera, with the expected return of several incumbents.

- Picamoles outside group -

Some players in waivers for Japan, absent or substitute last Saturday and hoping to show themselves, are therefore for their expense.

More than Sofiane Guitoune, again out of the group, we think especially of reservists Vincent Rattez (back or winger) and Anthony Belleau (center or opener), again absent from the group.

Wenceslas Lauret, still convalescent (thigh), and Louis Picamoles, who passes from substitute to out of group, they are not substitutes.

But they can make themselves some white hair, faced with fierce competition in the third row: Francois Cros (reservist) shone in Nice, and Brunel has maintained his confidence Grégory Alldritt and Ollivon, also convincing.

Alldritt and Ollivon will be associated with Iturria, while Yacouba Camara will have a chance to convince on leaving the bench. As substitutes Cyril Baille (left pillar) and Romain Taofifenua (second line).

Associations also emerge within two strategic lines, where pairs need common landmarks: at the hinge, where Brunel has returned the pair Dupont-Lopez, and in the center, where the duo Fofana-Fickou will chained again.

Like others, Romain Ntamack, the incumbent at the opening during most of the Tournament, will probably have to wait before he can show himself.

© 2019 AFP