Paris (AFP)
Take off after the crash. The XV of France under 20, very altered, will try Friday against Italy to recover from the defeat (29-24) inflicted at the opening of the Tournament by the English.
Of the fifteen players lined up to kick off against England, coach Philippe Boher will only renew six against the "Azzurri", Friday at 9:00 pm in Aix-en-Provence.
Captain Jordan Joseph, third line of Racing 92 and author of a test against the English, retains his place, as does his team-mate in club, the scrum half Nolann Le Garrec, the team's youngest player at 17.
Besides Joseph, the main candidates for a place in the "real" XV of France are left to rest: Ethan Dumortier, the Lyon winger who has also flattened against the English, is on the bench and gives way to another Lyonnais , Nathan Farissier.
Matthias Haddad, Théo Lachaud and Paul Mallez are not on the scoresheet.
Two reigning world champions, the Bleuets fell from high against England, they who logically aim for victory in the Tournament and aim to win a third title in a row at the U20 world championship in Italy (June 28 - July 18) .
And the next meeting looks harsher than expected. The young "Azzurri", narrowly beaten (35-31) by the French during the previous edition, created the surprise by going to win (17-7) in Wales for the first day.
The Blueberries program will follow two trips, to Wales on February 21 and then to Scotland on March 6, and the reception of Ireland in Perpignan on March 13 to finish.
In the other matches, which follow the calendar for the senior teams, Ireland, the first in the Tournament, receives Wales (Friday at 8.15 p.m.), and England, another candidate for the title, moves to Scotland (Friday at 8.30 p.m. ).
The France U20 team against Italy on Friday at 9 p.m .:
Tiberghien (Clermont) - Dridi (Toulon), Costossèque (Racing 92), Moefana Falatea (Bordeaux-Bègles), Farissier (Lyon) - (o) Dolhagaray (Bayonne), (m) Le Garrec (Racing 92) - Le Corvec ( Toulon), Joseph (Racing 92, cap.), Bazin (Vannes / D2) - Warion (Provence Rugby / D2), Maravat (Agen) - Ikahehegi (Racing 92), Cramont (Toulouse), Bordelai (Racing 92)
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