Past Number 2 to No. 3 in the scrum half position of the XV of France since the start of the World Cup, Baptiste Serin finally gets his chance. The Toulon player was chosen to face Tonga Sunday (09h45 French time) in Kumamoto. He was preferred to Antoine Dupont, who formed the hinge with Romain Ntamack against Argentina in opening (23-21).
Brunel seduced by his start on Wednesday
Replacing Maxime Machenaud against the United States on Wednesday, Baptiste Serin made an excellent start, boosting the play of the Blues and registering the fourth try. Visibly seduced, the coach Jacques Brunel decided to give him back his chance of entry. A first since November 2018 and a defeat against Fiji at the Stade de France (21-14).
Guirado substitute, Captain Poirot
Baptiste Serin will find Sunday four players who started the game against the United States. Camille Chat, preferred to tailgating at Guilhem Guirado, second row Paul Gabrillagues, winger Alivereti Raka and center Sofiane Guitoune will play a second match in four days. In the absence of Guirado, it is the pillar Jefferson Poirot who will be the captain of this XV of France, whose substitutes will be known Friday.
This quintet will be accompanied by ten players against Argentina before being spared against the United States. Rabah Slimani and Jefferson Poirot will support Camille Chat in front row, Sebastien Vahaamahina will play in second row with Paul Gabrillagues, while the third line holder against the Pumas has been renewed. It is composed of Grégory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon and Wenceslas Lauret.
Behind, besides Romain Ntamack, the coaching reminded Virimi Vakatawa in the center, Damian Penaud on a wing and Maxime Médard in the back.
The starting XV of the French team against Tonga:
Médard - Penaud, Vakatawa, Guitoune, Raka - (o) Ntamack, (m) Serin - Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret - Vahaamahina, Gabrillagues - Slimani, Cat, Poirot (cap)