Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

Four repeaters, ten executives recalled but five spared, including captain Guilhem Guirado: the coach of the XV of France Jacques Brunel has bet Thursday on a team variegated to face Tonga in World Cup Sunday (09.45 French) in Kumamoto, only four days after the previous match.

+ Five executives

The equation to be solved was complicated, with three meetings spaced in ten days, between the one against the United States on Wednesday in Fukuoka (33-9) and the last of pool against the English, on October 12 in Yokohama.

Professor Brunel solved it by a subtle mix of eleven changes, and beating the recall of ten holders against Argentina in opening (23-21), for this meeting in Kumamoto where a victory could qualify the Blues (if Argentina does not beat England the day before).

But also by providing five frames for the "Crunch" against the XV of the Rose. It was expected that three members of this club of five would not appear in the starting XV, whose substitutes will be announced Friday at the Brunel press conference - probably because of the uncertainty surrounding the participation of these substitutes after the fight delivered to the Americans.

Either center Gaël Fickou and winger Yoann Huget, who played 80 minutes Wednesday, as well as the second or third line Arthur Iturria (65). But the coaching also chose to deprive himself of Guirado, who played only the second period, and Antoine Dupont (out of group).

+ Serin revived

Guirado will be replaced in his role as captain by Jefferson Poirot and as a hooker by Camille Chat. A decision that illuminates a new day the early exit of the second face in the United States, and the justification provided by Brunel when Guirado was placed on the bench for the last game of preparation, against Italy (49-17 on August 30): The goal was to give play time to Chat as holder in anticipation of these two close World Cup matches.

Dupont is replaced by Baptiste Serin, chosen to form the hinge with Romain Ntamack. A come back for the scrum-half, who has gone from N.2 to N.3 at the post since the start of the World Cup: Dupont's substitute in the three preparation matches, he was overtaken, once the Blues arrived in Japan, by Maxime Machenaud (substitute against Argentina then holder against the Americans).

The staff was apparently seduced by his coming into play Wednesday in Fukuoka, where Serin boosted the game and scored the fourth try. The future Toulonnais will honor his first tenure since November 2018 and the defeat against Fiji at the Stade de France (21-14).

+ Four doubled

A substitute promoted holder and ten frames recalled (Médard, Penaud, Vakatawa, Ntamack, Alldritt, Ollivon, Lauret, Vahaamahina, Poirot and Slimani): four players will therefore chain a second tenure in the space of four days.

Chat will be accompanied by the second line Paul Gabrillagues (57 minutes of play Wednesday), the center Sofiane Guitoune (76) and Alivereti Raka. The Fijian winger, who played the whole game against the Americans, has an opportunity to redeem himself after delivering a pale copy, his hand and placement errors having darkened the differences created ball in hand.

Guitoune was better but also had some waste. Second center Wednesday, it will evolve this time with the N.12 in the back, for the first time of career. "I never played 12 except during the match (with Toulouse)" explained Saturday Guitoune, former winger or rear converted to the center position since the beginning of the season.

This choice resembles a small bet of the staff, private since the package of Wesley Fofana for the continuation of the competition of its only first center of trade. The two other regulars of the post? Fickou, who was left 80 minutes on the field Wednesday, and Ntamack, lined up on Sunday opening.

© 2019 AFP