Marcoussis (France) (AFP)
Nine blues in Blue.
Nine neophytes, four forwards and five backs, were summoned Monday by the coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié to prepare for the test matches of the fall.
The Blues must face Argentina on November 6 at the Stade de France then Georgia on the 14 in Bordeaux.
Before the shock, dress rehearsal for the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, against the All Blacks, on November 20, in Saint-Denis.
Bordelais Thierry Paiva, Romain Buros and Maxime Lucu, Toulouse Matthis Lebel and Thibaud Flament, Racingman Donovan Taofifenua, Clermontois Tani Vili as well as Castresian Florent Vanverberghe and Montpellier Florian Verhaeghe will be able to hope to win their first selection.
"Some, like Flament or Verhaeghe, who have never spent time with us, have been successful in club. They also have a profile that interests us, especially their skills on the sideline. We want to see them up close" , explained Galthié.
Alongside the indestructible Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Gaël Fickou, Julien Marchand, Bernard Le Roux, Gregory Alldritt, Virimi Vakatawa or Brice Dulin, these nine newcomers will discover Marcoussis from next week.
The Bordelais Romain Buros, January 10, 2021 at the Chaban-Delmas stadium against Lyon ROMAIN PERROCHEAU AFP / Archives
In total, ten Toulousans were summoned, nearly a quarter of the players.
This list of 42 players will then be reduced to 28 before the first game of the November tour.
The 14 others will return to their club on Wednesday so that they can train with their team on Thursday morning.
- Ollivon will knight the new captain -
To compose his group, the staff of the Blues had to do with a lot of absences, including the center of Montpellier Arthur Vincent (cruciate ligaments), the scrum half of Toulon Baptiste Serin (shoulder), the second row of Racing 92 Baptiste Pesenti (shoulder), Lyon center Pierre-Louis Barassi (ankle), Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas (thigh) or Montpellier mainstay Mohamed Haouas (muscle injury) ...
A full infirmary where also appears the usual captain Charles Ollivon, victim of a rupture of an anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee.
To replace him, five names stand out, "a club of five", according to Ibanez: Toulouse-based Antoine Dupont, Anthony Jelonch and Julien Marchand, Racingman Gaël Fickou or Rochelais Grégory Alldritt.
The name of the new Blues boss will be unveiled at the end of the week.
"Performance, generosity, humility, loyalty will be essential criteria in the choice of captain," assured Blues manager Raphaël Ibanez.
Jelonch had already performed brilliantly in this role in Australia in July.
Perpignan full-back Melvyn Jaminet, Castres hooker Gaëtan Barlot, La Rochelle center Jonathan Danty and Castres pillar Wilfrid Hounkpatin are also the big winners of this summer tour "Down Under" since they find the Blues of autumn.
Gaël Fickou wrestling with Jamie Ritchie and Ali Price during the Six Nations Tournament match between France and Scotland, March 26, 2021 at Stade de France Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives
On the other hand, Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Louis Carbonel (Toulon) will not be in the game.
"The absent are part of the group. We called them today (Monday, Editor's note) and we explained ourselves with them: we prefer that they learn it from us and that they can ask us the questions they want, "said Galthié.
"All these players have their place. Even those who have not been called up. They are all part of 'blue culture', whatever their status at the moment," added Ibanez.
© 2021 AFP