Marcoussis (France) (AFP)

A third line Camara-Picamoles-Lauret who plays big, Guilhem Guirado substitute and two reservists left behind: coach Jacques Brunel made his final tradeoff Tuesday to face Friday Italy, the last preparation match for the World Cup (20 September - 2 November).

The games are done, or almost. Less than a week from Monday's announcement of the final group of 31 players for Japan, the Blues know what they have left to do, or not, to take their place on the plane.

In the first place Louis Picamoles, Yacouba Camara and Wenceslas Lauret, formerly holders in power in the third row but who were slowed at the end of preparation by physical glitches and were only at best substitutes - for the first two - at the two games against Scotland.

However, during this time, the reservists François Cros and Charles Ollivon were particularly prominent during the first round against the Chardon XV in Nice (32-3). And could push out of the group one or two of the above three.

Captain since 2016, the hooker Guilhem Guirado has his place assured among the 31. Except that for the second time in a fortnight after Nice, it is the left pillar Jefferson Poirot who will guide the Blues, since the Catalan will start on the bench, replaced by Camille Chat.

- Rattez and Belleau forgotten -

With nine changes, plus two repositionings (the versatile Gael Fickou wing and Arthur Iturria in second row), compared to the starting XV beaten Saturday in Edinburgh (17-14), Brunel proceeded as expected to a broad review of effective, but without necessarily including all the prospective players.

Thus, if Yoann Huget, unavailable for previous meetings, will finally be able to play, the scrum-half Maxime Machenaud and the right pillar Demba Bamba, still convalescents, and especially the reservists Anthony Belleau and Vincent Rattez will finish this preparation without having disputed a only minute of play

The last two will probably not be traveling to Japan. On the other hand, Romain Taofifenua, another second-line reservist, has one last chance to show and turn the tide. The situation is blurry for the center Virimi Vakatawa, the latest arrived replacing Geoffrey Doumayrou, package, and complicated for the reservist Cyril Baille, N.3 in the hierarchy of left pillars: these two are on the bench.

Behind, the Toulouse return in force (5 holders out of 7) with the returns of Huget and Romain Ntamack, replacing Camille Lopez on the first two matches. The latter touched the coast and spared, the opener can reform with Antoine Dupont - holder on all three matches - the hinge that had ended the Six Nations Tournament.

Author of a beautiful performance in Edinburgh, Sofiane Guitoune is logically returned to the center where he will form a seductive duet with Wesley Fofana, he had replaced at short notice in Scotland. Where the back Thomas Ramos has not reassured and logically loses his place in favor of Maxime Médard.

The starting XV: Medard - Huget, Guitoune, Fofana, Fickou - (o) Ntamack, (m) A. Dupont - Y. Camara, Picamoles, Lauret - R. Taofifenua, Iturria - Slimani, Cat, Poirot (cap.)

Replacements: Guirado, Baille, Setiano, Lambey, Cros, Serin, Vakatawa, Ramos

© 2019 AFP