Fujiyoshida (Japan) (AFP)
In the unlikely absence of Wesley Fofana, package, Gael Fickou should occupy the position of first center on Saturday for the start of the World Cup in Japan XV of France, against Argentina. With no doubt Virimi Vakatawa by his side and Romain Ntamack in front of him.
The decision should be made official Thursday morning (11:00 local / 04:00 French), during the announcement of the team composition: Fofana, one of the attack leaders of the Blues, should miss the shock already decisive for the qualification, facing the Pumas, always in delicacy with a thigh.
To replace the only real first center of the group of 31, the coach could either align Ntamack, who has played almost all season at this position with Toulouse but has been more aligned to the opening in blue. Either favor the option Fickou, more a second center but still used to play with the N.12 on the shoulders.
The management seems to have opted for this solution, as in Scotland on August 24 (14-17), after the loss of Fofana, already for an injury to a thigh. Fickou then formed the center pair with Sofiane Guitoune; Saturday, it should be with Vakatawa.
The original Fijian would make a sensational appearance in the starting XV: initially not retained for the competition, he took advantage of the injury of Geoffrey Doumayrou, mid-August, to join the group. Before being among the 31 and therefore, probably, to start the most important game of the Blues of the past four years when he played only about twenty minutes in preparation.
Against Italy on August 30 (47-19), to sign a cutting edge and full of gas as the second center, where this former winger (he has experienced 17 of his 18 selections to this position) has since reconverted the spring of 2018.
- Iturria in 2nd line -
Fickou and Vakatawa should have Ntamack in front of them, who would be preferred to the position of opener to Camille Lopez.
The Clermont had certainly started the first two preparation matches, but he was friable in the practice of kicks (50% success against Scotland in Nice). The Toulousain, on the other hand, was only titularized in closing against the Italians, but assured against the poles (5/6), in addition to being seductive in the animation.
Ntamack would then find the N.10 flocked jersey occupied during three of the five matches of the last Six Nations Tournament.
Before, after Brunel had dispelled - in hollow - the blur surrounding the captain Guilhem Guirado - who should be titular - the main question concerns the identity of the player brought to form the second line with Sebastien Vahaamahina.
In the absence of Paul Gabrillagues (suspended), Arthur Iturria should start, rather than Bernard Le Roux. More dense physically but less comfortable in touch and clever ball in hand, the Racingman played mostly none of the three preparation matches, suspended.
The presence of Iturria in the "cage" would in addition to the staff to start Charles Ollivon, very legs in preparation, alongside Wenceslas Lauret and Grégory Alldritt in a third complementary line.
Tuesday, the Blues have trained separately (forwards / three quarters) then collectively in the morning, their last big session before the meeting with the Argentines. On Wednesday, after a morning of rest, they will leave Fujiyoshida for Tokyo, some 130 kilometers further east, where they will challenge the Argentineans on Saturday.
The probable starting XV: Médard - Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret - Vahaamahina, Iturria - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot
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