Marcoussis (France) (AFP)
The third line Yacouba Camara, Louis Picamoles and Wenceslas Lauret will return as holders in the XV of France who will face Friday Italy in the final match of preparation for the World cup, announced Tuesday the management.
Absent or substitute in the first two games against Scotland, these three players, shoved in the hierarchy by Grégory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon and François Cros, play big at the Stade de France before the announcement Monday of the final list of 31 players for Japan (September 20th - November 2nd).
Unavailable against the Chardon XV, winger Yoann Huget also made his return behind a hinge Roman Ntamack - Antoine Dupont last aligned in ... Italy, for the closing of the Tournament of six nations (25-14). Left Pillar Jefferson Poirot will be captain instead of hooker Guilhem Guirado, replaced by Camille Chat, for the second time in a fortnight.
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), the coach Jacques Brunel proceeds as planned to a wide membership review, but without necessarily including all prospective players.
Thus, the scrum half Maxime Machenaud, touched in the thigh the previous weeks, and especially the reservists Anthony Belleau and Vincent Rattez will not have a chance and will finish this preparation without having played a single minute.
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 himself.
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