Paris (AFP)

Three blues in Blue: the pillar Georges-Henri Colombe, the winger Donovan Taofifenua and the center Julien Delbouis join the captain Charles Ollivon or the star Antoine Dupont in the list of 37 players summoned by the coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié to prepare the 2021 Six Nations Tournament.

A little over a month after the heroic defeat of the French "reservists" against England (22-19 AD) in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup, the Blues are therefore back.

And some of these "without ranks" have won their place in the so-called "premium" group, starting with the back Brice Dulin, named best player of the short-lived competition of the fall.

At 30 years old and 31 caps, he would almost look like a former if he did not have only two selections under Fabien Galthié, his first since 2017. But his performances against Italy and then in England have earned him a recall in Marcoussis.

He could even start since Anthony Bouthier (6 caps), usual holder in 15 with the Blues, no longer seems as sovereign as a year ago.

Used at the opening in club, the Montpellier seems a notch below its rival from La Rochelle.

And Toulouse, Thomas Ramos (14 caps), also called.

Other survivors of the XV of France rejuvenated at Twickenham, the second line Baptiste Pesenti (Pau), the winger Gabin Villière (Toulon), the third line Anthony Jelonch (Castres) were also recalled.

The main surprise comes from Racing 92 and its crack Donovan Taofifenua.

At 21, the winger has been walking on the water since the start of the season with six tries in nine Top 14 matches and two in as many European Cup matches.

Already summoned in the fall without ever playing, he will have to find a place in the sun between the returning Damian Penaud (Clermont) and the experienced Teddy Thomas (Racing 92).

Vincent Rattez (Montpellier) suffers from his half-fig, half-grape start to the season.

Injured to the jaw, Toulouse opener Romain Ntamack is also absent.

In his place, Matthieu Jalibert and Louis Carbonel will compete for the starting place.

- Ntamack out, Penaud in -

For the rest, the staff of the Blues will find familiar faces, starting with the third row of Toulon Charles Ollivon, who had a time yielded - constrained and forced by the limitation of the match sheets - the captaincy to Baptiste Serin then Baptiste Couilloud .

The indispensable Paul Willemse and Bernard Le Roux, in the second row, are also in the game.

Just like the precious Grégory Aldritt (La Rochelle) or the Swiss army knife of the French stadium Gaël Fickou.

The versatile center also finds Virima Vakatawa (Racing 92) and Arthur Vincent (Montpellier), accompanied by another surprise, Julien Delbouis (21 years old, 0 selection).

On the front row, no big surprises: Julien Marchand (Toulouse) and Camille Chat (Racing 92) will compete for the place of titular hooker while Jean-Baptiste Gros, Pierre Bourgarit, Mohamed Haouas and Cyril Baille are installed on the front row.

The novelty comes from the colossus Georges-Henri Colombe (Racing 92), third neophyte summoned.

These 37 players will be supplemented by five "training partners" under the agreement signed between the NRL and the FFR.

The staff of the Blues will therefore be able to count on 42 players to prepare for the 2021 Tournament, supposed to start on February 6 for France with a trip to Italy.

These five reinforcements, however, will not be able to play the weekend match or come from a club that already has more than one player selected in the 37.

After a preparation course in Nice (February 25-February 5), like last year, the XV of France will finally find the grounds in Rome, against Italy.

Provided, however, that sanitary conditions allow it.

A technical meeting concerning the 2021 edition will take place at the Ministry of Sports on Tuesday morning, the day after the suspension of the European rugby cups.

© 2021 AFP