A dozen changes for France versus Japan after troubled summer tour

Fabien Galthie has named a France team to host Japan in Paris on Saturday showing a dozen changes 17 weeks after they lost to Argentina to round off their 2023/24 season. The French were beaten 25-33 in Buenos Aires on July 13, a result that gave the Pumas a one-all Test series draw.

That tour had gone ahead without the French being able to select at full strength due to the conclusion of Top 14 won by Toulouse in the final versus Bordeaux in Marseille.

Galthie, though, has now been able to assemble a full-strength squad for the three-match Autumn Nations Series featuring matches versus Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.

For the Japanese game, which marks a first return to the Stade de France for the French since last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final elimination to South Africa, only full-back Leo Barre, outside centre Emilien Gailleton and loosehead Jean-Baptiste Gros are retained from the tour-ending loss four months ago.

Among the five changes to the back line are the recall of Antoine Dupont, who spent his summer helping France to men’s rugby sevens gold medal glory at the Olympics, winger Damian Penaud and out-half Thomas Ramos.

Up front, where there are seven pack alterations, lock Thibaud Flament and No8 Gregory Alldritt are back in the mix.