It is not only because of the withdrawal of the Toulon winger Gabin Villière, hit in the ankle on Wednesday during the high intensity training of the Blues gathered in training in Capbreton (Landes), that the young Lyonnais gleans his first " cloak".

But it is also the consequence of its hatching at the highest level for a year which finds its logical outcome here.

Dumortier "sailed between Lyon and the France team at VII. He made a strong impression when he came to work with us", explained the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié during a press conference at the Hotel des Bleus in Capbreton.

Throughout the preparation, he wore the blue chasuble of the potential holders, ahead in the hierarchy of the Toulousain Matthis Lebel (23 years old, 5 sel.)

"We want to push him towards this form of hatching, as is the case today with his club Lyon and in the France team", added Galthié, before specifying to have "a thought" for Gabin Villière , "who did not want to let go of the jersey, who was ready".

"Place to Take"

Dumortier, born into a family of basketball players, stands out a bit within the brotherhood of wingers but with eight tries in eleven league matches, plus three in as many Champions Cup matches, he is remarkably efficient.

"I don't know if we can talk about the place to take. The objective for me is clearly to shake up the codes but not to skip the stages. I try to do my best and bring my personal touch to this group. “, said the Lyonnais trained in Saint-Savin (Isère), at the start of the Blues internship.

The rest of the composition of the XV of France announced by Galthié is rather classic, with the tenure in the second line of Toulousain Thibaud Flament (25 years old, 11 caps), who will be associated for only the second time with Paul Willemse.

Fabien Galthié in Capbreton on February 3, 2023 © GAIZKA IROZ / AFP

In the center, the versatile Bordeaux-Bègles player Yoram Moefana (22, 11 caps), who in the fall had "troubleshooted" on the wing in place of Villière, will be associated with the "veteran" of Racing 92, Gaël Fickou (28 years old, 74 caps), while the Toulousain Thomas Ramos (27 years old, 20 caps) will take over the position of N.15, to the detriment of Melvyn Jaminet.

Macalou and Le Garrec on the bench

On the front line, the tricolor coaching retained the trio formed by the Toulouse pillars Cyril Baille (29 years old, 38 caps) and La Rochelle Uini Atonio (32 years old, 47 caps), associated with the hooker Julien Marchand (27 years old, 24 salt.).

The third line is made up of Toulousain Anthony Jelonch (26 years old, 22 caps), Toulonnais Charles Ollivon (29 years old, 27 caps) and Rochelais Grégory Alldritt (25 years old, 31 caps).

Anthony Jelonch in training in Capbreton on January 28, 2023 © ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP

At the hinge, the Toulousains Antoine Dupont (25 years old, 43 caps), who remains captain, and Romain Ntamack (23 years old, 31 caps) will be associated for the 22nd time in Blue.

Finally, on the bench of substitutes, Fabien Galthié chose to retain two backs (Nolann Le Garrec, Matthieu Jalibert) and five professional forwards (Gaëtan Barlot, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Thomas Lavault), as well as the third line of the French Stade Sekou Macalou, which can help out in three-quarters.

The young scrum half of Racing 92 Nolann Le Garrec, 20, could thus also obtain his first selection at the Stadio olimpico.

"We feel a kind of maturity in him, despite his young age, we feel that he is ready", explained Galthié.

© 2023 AFP