Even if the Blues have a series of eight straight victories to extend, the coach had warned that he would leave many executives to rest, including most of the winners of the Grand Slam this spring, in particular the Toulouse Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille and Anthony Jelonch, and the Rochelais European champions Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio and Jonathan Danty.

Players from the Top 14 finalist clubs next Friday, Montpellier and Castres, also did without for the two scheduled matches against the Japanese, July 2 in Aichi then July 9 in Tokyo.

Alongside the 19 French selected from the British Barbarians, winners of the English (52-21) Sunday at Twickenham, all in the group, several newcomers are in the 42.

We can cite among them certain revelations of this season: the third line of Stade La Rochelle Matthias Haddad (21 years old), the scrum half of Racing 92 Nolann Le Garrec (20 years old), the winger of Bayonne Rémy Baget (24 years old, co-best Pro D2 try scorer)...

Matthias Haddad with La Rochelle at home against the French Stade in the Top 14 on May 21, 2022 XAVIER LEOTY AFP / Archives

As well as a few surprises: the pillar of Bayonne Matis Perchaud (19 years old), the third line of Bordeaux-Bègles Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer (25 years old) or the winger of Oyonnax Enzo Reybier (20 years old).

eight in series

It is therefore with a young group (just over 23 years old on average) and inexperienced (6 selections on average) that Fabien Galthié and his staff will fly to Japan on Wednesday, with the aim of continuing on the momentum of the eight consecutive successes of the Blues: the three autumn test matches against Argentina, Georgia and New Zealand followed by the five matches of the Six Nations Tournament.

Last year, for the summer tour in Australia, they were 22 to have never put on the jersey at Le Coq, and some unknown to the general public had taken the opportunity to shine.

The back of Perpignan, then in Pro D2, Melvyn Jaminet, had thus burst the screen "down under" so much that he was then established during each of the matches of the XV of France.

Charles Ollivon ball in hand with the XV of France against Wales in a test match on October 24, 2020 at the Stade de France Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

Not qualified for the final stages of the Top 14 with Usap, which he leaves to join Toulouse at the start of the school year, he is therefore logically part of the trip to Tokyo.

The Toulonnais Charles Ollivon (23 selections), absent last year because of a knee injury two months after his last match in Blue against Scotland on March 26, 2021, is also one of the 42 and should be named captain, a title that he had left in Australia to Anthony Jelonch.

The Toulon third line will be supported by another "former", Damian Penaud (32 caps), whose club also failed to qualify for the final phase, as well as by Racing 92 center Virimi Vakatawa (30 caps ), which is coming out of a rocky season and will have the opportunity to redeem itself in Japan.

"Incubator"

The opener Matthieu Jalibert (15 selections), eliminated in the semi-finals of the Top 14 with Bordeaux-Bègles, will be able to acquire playing time in Blue, after having missed the Tournament due to injury.

Finally, the "Slamards" Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana and Peato Mauvaka can also pack their bags.

This tour will be an "opportunity for many players to take advantage of our + incubator, laboratory + mode", explained Galthié in mid-May during a press conference.

The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié appreciates the victory in the Six Nations Tournament, March 19, 2022 in Saint-Denis FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

Before adding: "We saw it in Australia last year, there are players who have come to light like Melvyn Jaminet, Cameron Woki, Anthony Jelonch... So this is an opportunity for players who haven't had a chance to jump on the train to the World Cup yet."

A little over a year from the Mondial-2023 (September 8 - October 28) in France, there is still time to get on the wagon.

© 2022 AFP