Europe 1 with AFP 00h20, February 06, 2023
Accustomed to recalling 14 players to work at 42 at the start of the week, the staff of the Blues changed their habits after the victory in Italy on Sunday (24-29).
Only six players were called up on Sunday evening to prepare for the match in Ireland on Saturday: Bécognée, Castets, Cros, Barassi, Buros and Lebel.
After the first match won by the XV of France against Italy in the 2023 VI Nations Tournament, the coach of Les Bleus Fabien Galthié has decided to recall six players to prepare for the match against Ireland next Saturday.
Toulouse winger Matthis Lebel (23 years old, 5 caps) and his teammate François Cros, third line (28 years old, 16 caps), are among the six players summoned by the management of the XV of France to prepare for the second match of the Six Nations Tournament against Ireland, the Federation announced on Sunday.
The pillar of the French Stadium Clément Castets (26 years old, 0 caps), the third line of Montpellier Alexandre Bécognée (26 years old, 1 cap), the center of Toulouse Pierre-Louis Barassi (24 years old, 3 caps) and the back of UBB Romain Buros (25 years old, 0 selection) complete the list.
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First sluggish victory
France painfully won Sunday in Rome its first match of the Tournament, of which it is defending champion, against Italy (29-24).
With this narrow success, but accompanied by the offensive bonus, the XV of France still signs its 14th victory in a row, stretching an unprecedented series in the history of French rugby.
The Blues have chosen to stay in Rome to prepare for their match against Ireland next Saturday in Dublin.
The world's first nation impressed on Saturday in Cardiff against Wales (34-10).
The composition of the XV of France, which will face the teammates of Johnny Sexton at the Aviva Stadium will be announced Thursday in Rome.