The new capes will multiply this summer for the French rugby team.
Fabien Galthié has selected 22 neophytes from among the 42 players he is taking to Australia this summer for the test-match tour.
Among them, the Perpignan back Melvin Jaminet (21 years old), who was playing in Pro D2 this year, or the Clermont center Tani Vili (20 years old).
It is therefore a very inexperienced group, with an average of four selections, which will fly to the southern hemisphere.
Fabien Galthié must do without Toulouse and Rochelais, who will play the Top 14 final next weekend.
On the one hand, because the coach had warned that he would blow his most experienced and most sought-after elements, on the other hand because the players concerned could not have respected the 14-day quarantine imposed by Australia before the first game.
The XV of France must face the Wallabies three times: July 7 in Sydney, 13 in Melbourne and 17 in Brisbane.
Penaud, Taofifenua and Thomas will undoubtedly be Galthié's main relays, since they are the only ones with more than twenty selections for the French team.
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Rugby
Fabien Galthie
Sport
Top 14
XV of France