Marcoussis (France) (AFP)

Gaël Fickou, center holder during the first two days of the Six Nations Tournament, will slide on the left wing of the XV of France on Saturday against Wales to compensate for the package of Damian Penaud and Vincent Rattez.

The center Virimi Vakatawa, a time injured in the triceps, makes him his return to the starting XV alongside the former captain of the under-20 world champions Arthur Vincent. On the other hand, the pillar Jefferson Poirot, vice-captain at the time of the World-2019, does not appear in the group.

This is a disavowal for the Bordeaux-Bègles player (27 years old, 35 caps) who nevertheless sported this 2020 Tournament, the fourth of his career, in the shoes of a leader. Vice-captain in Japan, behind Guilhem Guirado who has retired, Poirot even explained "wanting to have a role in this group", strong from his 31 tenure in 35 layers.

Removable under Jacques Brunel, he will not make the trip to Cardiff, doubled in the hierarchy of the left pillars by the Toulousain Cyril Baille (26, 19 selections). More skillful with his hands, more cutting also in front of England (24-17) and Italy (35-22), Baille will find his teammate in club Julien Marchand (24 years, 4 selections) in tailgating and the Montpellier Mohamed Haouas (25 years old, 2 selections) on the right.

- Change at the rear -

The front eight will be the same as that which stepped on the English and then dominated the Italians, each time at home. Captain Charles Ollivon (26, 13 selections) takes his place alongside the essential Grégory Alldritt (22, 13 selections) and the precious François Cros (25, 4 selections), behind a second line with South African accents formed by Bernard Le Roux (30, 39 selections) and Paul Willemse (27, 5 selections).

The 100% Toulouse hinge at the start of the Tournament is also kept, with Antoine Dupont (23, 22 selections) at the half scrum position and Romain Ntamack (20, 14 selections) at the opening. Convincing during his first two outings, Anthony Bouthier (27, 2 caps) started for the third time in a row in the back.

The big change therefore comes from the back lines since the injury of Vincent Rattez (fibula) then that of Damian Penaud (calf), insufficiently delivered, sends defense captain Fickou to the wing, a position he has not occupied only nine times, including five as a holder, in the blue jersey. The center of the French Stadium had also registered his only try as a winger ... against Wales in the tournament in 2018, a lost game 14-13.

This gap offers a second consecutive tenure for Arthur Vincent (20 years, 2 selections). The former U20 captain moved in alongside Racingman Vakatawa, recovered from his injury.

Another ghost will be on the bench with the return of Camille Chat (26, 19 caps), who had missed the shocks against England and Italy due to a calf injury. The young Jean-Baptiste Gros (20 years old, 0 selection), double world champion 2018 and 2019 with the under 20s, will also start as a substitute.

Team: Bouthier - Thomas, Vakatawa, Vincent, Fickou - (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont - Ollivon (cap.), Alldritt, Cros - Willemse, Le Roux - Haouas, Marchand, Baille

Substitutes: Cat, Big, Bamba, Taofifenua, Cretin, Serin, Jalibert, Ramos

Reservists: Mauvaka, Atonio, Palu, Lucu, Ngandebe

© 2020 AFP