Only three players who started the first match of World Cup XV of France, against Argentina (23-21), were continued Monday in the starting team to face the United States, Wednesday in Fukuoka, in the South of Japan.

The "lucky ones" are Arthur Iturria, repositioned from second to third line, winger Yoann Huget and center Gaël Fickou. But for the rest, the coach Jacques Brunel proceeded to a very large reshuffle, a choice justified in part by the proximity of the third meeting, only four days later, against Tonga Sunday in Kumamoto.

"We tried to balance on both sides, to make everybody play, some people will double, we tried to take into account the shape and the health of everyone." said Brunel to the press. And the coach of nuance this great upheaval: "There are many changes, but without it anyway because 17 players were on the score sheet last weekend.Even if they were not All incumbents, there are only six new ones. "

Be the right pillar Emerick Setiano, who will honor his first tenure, the second line Paul Gabrillagues, the third line Yacouba Camara, Sofiane Guitoune in the center and Alivereti Raka on a wing. And among substitute Baptist Serin.

A first captaincy for Picamoles

The Blues, who will wear Wednesday a black armband in tribute to former French President Jacques Chirac, will try to shine against a team from the United States considered the lowest in Pool C and garner the 5 points of a victory improved essential to calmly consider their qualification in the quarterfinals.

The 12-day period between the first two games of this competition was marked by several bruises. The most recent was of a meteorological nature since the holding of this meeting was threatened by the arrival of a typhoon on Fukuoka. But organizers of the World Cup announced Monday that it will ultimately have no impact on the match, typhoon Mitag decreasing in intensity and following a trajectory further west of the Japanese coast.

Two other blows have also hit the Blues since their opening match against Argentina: the three-quarter center pass Wesley Fofana, replaced by the young Pierre-Louis Barassi, and that of the right pillar Demba Bamba, announced Saturday by the coaching of the Blues. The latter returned in the 47th minute of play against the Pumas and he hoped to start against the United States. But he injured a thigh during a training of tricolor. He is replaced by Cedate Gomes Sa who will arrive Monday in Japan.

Swept by the English in their first game (7-45), the Americans hope to raise their heads against the French. The tricolor frame knows it and it counts on the freshness of the selected group to contain and to overcome them. And he chose to entrust the captaincy for this meeting to the experienced Louis Picamoles (33 years, 80 selections), which will endorse for the first time this mission among the Blues.

With AFP