Paris (AFP)

The time for choices has returned for Fabien Galthié: reunited in Nice with a group of 42, the neo-coach of the Blues announced Thursday a tight list of 28 players before the first match of the Six Nations Tournament, against England on 2 February.

After opening, refocusing? If 19 neophytes without selection are in the group of 42, Galthié should Thursday at 12:30 pm refocus his team on a more experienced hard core.

To wear a rejuvenated group, executives should logically be present in the 28, starting with the new captain Charles Ollivon, the most capped player Gaël Fickou (51 selections) or the oldest Bernard Le Roux (30 years), all three holders in the World Cup quarter-final lost to Wales in October.

On the field of Oita during the 20-19 defeat, Jefferson Poirot, Camille Chat, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Virimi Vakatawa and Damian Penaud should also form the surety experience of this new era, its framework.

A new era whose contours will take shape a little finer Thursday, when fourteen players leave the French Riviera to join their club for the 14th day of Top 14 this weekend.

The failed ones will however return on Sunday to train in Nice with this group of 42 dear to the management of the Blues. A formula wanted by Galthié, manager Raphaël Ibanez and the entire staff to offer more possibilities during training. The objective displayed? Finally enter modern rugby and start a virtuous cycle after years of scarcity and ten years after the last tournament victory (2010).

- Blueberries hatch -

During the official presentation of the Tournament in London on Wednesday, Galthié recalled that this enlarged young group (average age 24 years) and inexperienced (average 8 selections) was at the service of its "medium-term vision" with the Cup in mind. of the world in 2023 in France.

But in the short term, to support this vision, how many of these promising neophytes will still be there on Thursday? And, after the exclusion of Maxime Médard, Yoann Huget, Rabah Slimani or Wenceslas Lauret, will other globalists be excluded?

The management of the Blues know, only 36 games must be played by France before the next World Cup. To begin therefore, without acclimatization phase, with a shock against England.

In this context, is it too early to launch other 2018 and / or 2019 U20 world champions (under 20), on the path opened by Bamba (21, 7 selections) and Ntamack (20, 12 selections), now permanently established among the big ones?

Other players with a particular profile, like the third line "scraper" Alexandre Fischer (Clermont), can they cross this new step towards the Blue jersey?

This tight group will give other clues on the path taken.

© 2020 AFP