He will play a third World Cup: Louis Picamoles, one of the experienced players of the XV of France, was finally selected Monday in the group of 31 players to compete in the World Cup in Japan (September 20-November 2), at the opposite of the 2nd line Félix Lambey.
Picamoles (33 years, 79 sel.), Announced in the hot seat, appears in the list unveiled in the newspaper of TF1 by the coach Jacques Brunel, as Yacouba Camara and Wenceslas Lauret in the 3rd line. In addition to Lambey (Lyon), the six players ousted are the pillar Dany Priso (La Rochelle), the second line Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), the third line François Cros (Toulouse), the back or winger Vincent Rattez (La Rochelle), and the opener or center of Toulon Anthony Belleau.
Picamoles convinced against Italy
Picamoles, present at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, posted at the post of N.8 a unique profile of perforator, able to advance in the defenses. But his lack of consistency, endurance, mobility and the good performance of his competitors had left a serious doubt about his presence in the list of 31. His performance Friday against Italy (47-19), the last match of preparation, convinced the staff.
Compared to the provisional group of 31 announced on June 18, the coach has finally decided to take a third extra line and rely on the versatility of Arthur Iturria, "who can play second and third line". Lambey, missing out on his game in Scotland on Aug. 24 (17-14 defeats), especially in terms of physical impact, actually costs and is digitally replaced by Charles Ollivon, who was originally among the Reservists (like Cros) .
Apart from Ollivon, the other player promoted from substitute to starter is the left pillar Cyril Baille, selected at the expense of Priso. Baille was more than arrived during preparation, July 20, after the package on injury of Etienne Falgoux.
Belleau, Rattez, Taofifenua and therefore Cros were their reservists.
The group of 31 players of the XV of France
17 fronts: Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Guilhem Guirado (Montpellier / cap.), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emerick Setiano (Toulon), Rabah Slimani (Clermont) , Demba Bamba (Lyon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont), Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92), Paul Gabrillagues (French Stadium), Arthur Iturria (Clermont), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier), Charles Ollivon ( Toulon), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)
14 backs : Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Gael Fickou (French Stage), Virimi Vakatawa ( Racing 92), Sofiane Guitoune (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Damian Penaud (Clermont), Alivereti Raka (Clermont), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), Maxime Médard (Toulouse)