Oita (Japan) (AFP)

Winger XV of France Damian Penaud, disabled since Sunday with pains in the area of ​​the lower abdomen, should play Sunday the quarter-final of the World Cup against the Welsh in Oita (southern Japan) after spending a test concluding Thursday, we learned from the management.

A second good news is therefore for the Blues: as the scrum half Antoine Dupont, touched back for two weeks and who had finally trained normally Wednesday, Penaud (23 years, 15 sel.) Should hold his place against the Wales.

While his teammates enjoyed a day of rest, some, like Captain Guilhem Guirado, to discover the hot sand baths of the spa resort of Beppu, about fifteen kilometers from Oita, Penaud has passed a test physical.

As the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) performed the day before, it was reassuring, and winger should be included in the starting XV to be announced Friday (15:00 local / 08:00 French) by Jacques Brunel.

A probable relief for the coach, both Penaud, "factor X" attacking Blues since the beginning of the competition, is valuable for its ability to cross the defenses and its qualities in the air. Well above that of his teammate ASM Alivereti Raka, aligned Wednesday in the team of very likely holders in the absence of Penaud.

The composition announced Friday should be the one that should have announced Brunel last Thursday for the final group game, against England, eventually canceled due to the passage of Typhoon Hagibis over Tokyo.

- Which bench? -

That is the winners of Argentina (23-21) opening, with one exception: in the second row, Arthur Iturria will probably leave his place to Bernard Le Roux, the physical density superior and author of an excellent performance as a holder against the United States on October 2nd (33-9).

Guirado, replacing Camille Chat for the two games in four days against the Americans and then Tonga (23-21), would find his place of titling and captain status.

Will Iturria console himself with a place on the bench? This seems far from obvious, even though he has as his second / third line versatility.

In the second row, coaching could opt for Paul Gabrillagues, the only one to push right in closed scrum with Sebastien Vahaamahina, holder. Depriving the Parisian would therefore be problematic in case of Clermont injury.

And third line, hard to imagine Brunel happen to Louis Picamoles, valuable for his experience and whose power should do damage, past the hour of play, in a tired defense.

The other question concerns the substitute position among the backs, which should be played between Sofiane Guitoune, repositioned in the center since the summer of 2018 after having evolved behind and wing, and Vincent Rattez. The Rochelais, called on October 3 after the package of Thomas Ramos, can cover him the positions of winger and rear.

The probable starting XV: Médard - Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget - (o) Ntamack, (m) A. Dupont - Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret - Vahaamahina, B. Le Roux - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot

© 2019 AFP