Toulouse (AFP)

The coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, chose Monday to keep almost all of his winning players from Ireland (35-27) for the first match of the Autumn Nations Cup against Fiji on November 15 , after which he will be forced to change everything.

Stay focus.

It is thus, with a stable workforce that had deserted the Blues for years, that Galthié managed to hoist them to 2nd place in the Six Nations Tournament on Saturday, leaving little the final victory to England.

The convincing victories against the Welsh (38-21) and the Irish confirmed the staff in this idea that the collective experience prevailed.

The same will apply to Fiji if the match, threatened by cases of Covid-19 on the island side, takes place.

And if 14 of the 15 holders - only winger Teddy Thomas was missing, injured - against Ireland for the closing of the Tournament were already opening nine months earlier against England, it's a safe bet that 'they will be almost as much renewed against Fiji.

- Couilloud replaces Serin -

The staff have made six changes in their group of 28 convened Thursday at Marcoussis, but mostly excluding reservists.

Only two players among the 23 entered against Ireland disappear from the list: the Toulouse flanker François Cros, injured, is replaced by Cameron Woki, and the Toulon scrum half, Baptiste Serin, faces competition from that of Lyon , Baptiste Couilloud.

Serin will however have a chance to join the Blues on Sunday since the group will return to 31 after the 8th day of Top 14. This is also what Sébastien Bézy, the N.9 from Clermont, who has just scored five tries in three, must also say to himself. league matches.

Behind the untouchable Antoine Dupont, these scrum-backs will have their chance anyway since the agreement reached after months of tension between Federation and League stipulates that each player has the right to three match sheets maximum.

- Towards a XV of France "bis" -

Since the winners of the Welsh and the Irish were kept for a 3rd game in a row rather than for the classification match of the newly created Autumn Cup, at the beginning of December, a XV de France "B" will therefore see the light of day for the trip to Scotland on November 22.

By participating at the end of this first four-week block, this week's six entrants are hopeful of being a part of it.

Racing hooker Teddy Baubigny, UBB second row Cyril Cazeaux and Stade Français center Julien Delbouis will aim for a first selection in November, like Toulon winger Gabin Villière, kept in the group.

The pillar of Toulouse Dorian Aldegheri (4 caps), Couilloud (3) and Woki (2) hope them again to taste the blue jersey.

It will be more likely against Scotland than against Fiji, although Cros' injury opens a door in the third row.

If the logic of continuity is still applied, the Lyonnais Dylan Cretin, who came into play against the Welsh and the Irish, should get his first tenure in blue.

Provided that the match takes place: cases of Covid within the Fijian workforce, confirmed on Monday, could threaten the holding of the match.

The staff of the Blues, him, focuses on these ten days of preparation to polish his young team which has just brilliantly met the expectations placed in it.

© 2020 AFP