Bordeaux-Bègles player Yoram Moefana, holder in the center against the XV of Clover (30-24), slips to the wing and therefore gives way to Jonathan Danty, already holder against Italy (37-15) at the sides of Gaël Fickou, but forfeited for the following match against Ireland due to injury.

In total, two changes - one position and one player - were made compared to the team that beat the Irish (30-24) on the last day of the Tournament.

Winger Gabin Villière, injured in the face, is the only one of the fifteen holders against the XV of Clover on February 12 absent for this first trip of the Blues in the 2022 Tournament.

This starting XV has just over 21 selections and an average age of 25 to challenge the XV du Chardon, which he only beat once in three matches under the Fabien Galthié era.

The staff of the Blues thus seems to have found their team on the road to a first Grand Slam since 2010.

Gaël Fickou (left) and Jonathan Danty (center) in training with the XV of France on February 23, 2022 at Marcoussis FRANCK FIFE AFP

At the time, Marc Lievremont's men narrowly won at Murrayfield (18-9).

Twelve years later, Moefana (21) will live his fifth selection, his third tenure.

For a funny baptism of fire: the young center of the UBB has only evolved on the wing three times in club, only once this season.

"A very good game"

This shift from the center to the wing allows Danty to find a place alongside Gaël Fickou.

"He had a good match against Ireland, a very good match, explained Galthié at a press conference about Moefana. A very good comeback against Italy. Against England (in December 2020), he had been successful, he is very successful with his club and, in all training sessions with us, whether in the center or on the wing. Our desire was to keep something homogeneous in the midfield, with the Fickou-Danty pair, which is beginning to have bearings".

The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié at the end of the press conference announcing the team for the match in Scotland on February 24, 2022 at Marcoussis FRANCK FIFE AFP

"The question arose with Lebel, who is a winger by profession: we made this decision with this form and these profiles, very strong, against a team that will field very strong and physical three-quarters, around Finn Russell. Our goal is to be able to respond on a case-by-case basis, in particular with the wingers who, at the moment, are walking on water," added the coach.

No surprise in the rest of the composition since the hinge of Toulouse, Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, is renewed for the tenth time of the Galthié era.

Six Toulousains, in total, will start this meeting: in addition to Ntamack and Dupont, the pillar Cyril Baille and the hooker Julien Marchand, the third lines Anthony Jelonch and François Cros will all start.

Just like Uini Atonio, who repelled competition from Mohamed Haouas or Demba Bamba to settle on the right of the scrum.

The third line of combat, which had scrapped successfully against the Irish, is also renewed with the inexhaustible Grégory Alldritt surrounded by Toulouse's Jelonch and Cros.

The team formed by the colossus Paul Willemse and the agile Cameron Woki is also back in the second row.

A lot of certainties therefore, for this XV of France in search of a first title in the Tournament for twelve years.

© 2022 AFP