Paris (AFP)

Who will take place on the plane? The coach of the XV of France Jacques Brunel must scratch six names to give Monday night (20:30) on TF1 his list of 31 players players for the World Cup (September 20-November 2).

Of the six reservists, only Anthony Belleau and Vincent Rattez, who have not had a chance during the three preparation matches, know that they will be victims of overbooking. There remain four places to take, all in front. Unless...

. Third line, nothing obvious

The Gersois had not hidden before the last preparation match largely won against Italy (47-19): it is in third row that the choice will be the most "complicated". With two reservists who had their chance and convinced, Charles Ollivon and François Cros, "we have 7 players for 5 seats," he summed up.

Not sure that the copy made against the Italians helped the staff to distribute the seats in the plane. For Louis Picamoles, Yacouba Camara and Wenceslas Lauret, holders for the first time after being delayed by small injuries, instead assured the Stade de France, if not the air hole of undisciplined early in the game ( 5 penalties to them three).

Arthur Iturria, who can also help in the second row, and Grégory Alldritt, who represents the future at the N.8 position, are sure to be. Airy and mobile, Ollivon made such a good impression against Scotland (32-3) that Brunel sees badly separate from Toulonnais.

. Lauret and Picamoles, last chance

Unless the staff decides to sacrifice the center Virimi Vakatawa, arrived at the end of preparation in replacement of Geoffrey Doumayrou, by betting on the versatility of Damian Penaud, so there are rather 4 players (Cros, Camara, Lauret, Picamoles) for 2 places.

"We are all stressed, making a World Cup is exceptional," admitted Lauret, not retained in 2011 and 2015 and who sees his last chance. "My story with the team of France, it was sawtooth (...) I do not know if there will be other (opportunities), I do not think so." His profile of tackler-scraper - it is he who has tackled the most Italians, 16 - could save him.

At 33, Picamoles, Dean of the Blues (79 sel.) With two World Cups to his credit, has confirmed to him that he will not apply in 2020. If he is disembarked from the plane, the Montpellier will have finished with the Blues, on a sad note. But this is not the most likely option: the puncher is valuable by its charges and, used as "impact player", could make a replacement of choice. His experience, in the midst of a highly rejuvenated group, is not to be neglected either.

. Baille has the rating

The left pillar Cyril Baille had landed in mid-July in Monaco to replace Etienne Falgoux, package. Six weeks later, the Toulouse reservist scored points against the theoretical holder Dany Priso, chaining the last two match sheets as a lining of Jefferson Poirot. To the point of doubling the Rochelais?

The last uncertainty is in the second row, where Romain Taofifenua was not unworthy Friday for his first tenure since 2017. The reservist threatens Paul Gabrillagues and Bernard Le Roux, both sealed by a suspension: the first will not be able to play the first match in Japan against Argentina, the second is now requalified but could not prove itself in August.

© 2019 AFP