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One of France's five changes suggests a truce in alleged strained relationships between players and management
By Online Editors
France’s XV for their quarter-final on Sunday suggests a truce has been agreed following a recently alleged split in Jacques Brunel’s camp in Japan.
Skipper Guilhem Guirado, a supposed central figure in the strained relations between the squad and management, hadn’t started a match at the finals since the opening round win over Argentina. However, he has now been reinstated at hooker to lead the side in the match-up with Wales in Oita.
In total, Brunel makes five changes from the XV that just about clung on to victory nearly two weeks ago over Tonga. Significantly, treasured scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been passed fit to team up with half-back partner Romain Ntamack and displace Baptiste Serin.
Dupont played just 27 minutes off the bench against the Tongans and despite only taking a limited part in training this week, he has been declared fit to feature in a team where Yoann Huget comes in on the left wing with Alivereti Raka dropping out the 23 entirely.
It’s the same demotion for midfielder Sofiane Guitoune, who loses out to the recalled Gael Fickou.
FRANCE
1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Guilhem Guirado (capt)
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Bernard Le Roux
5. Sebastien Vahaamahina
6. Wenceslas Lauret
7. Charles Ollivon
8. Gregory Alldritt
9. Antoine Dupont
10. Romain Ntamack
11. Yoann Huget
12. Gael Fickou
13. Virimi Vakatawa
14. Damian Penaud
15. Maxime Medard
16. Camille Chat
17. Cyril Baille
18. Emerick Setiano
19. Paul Gabrillagues
20. Louis Picamoles
21. Baptiste Serin
22. Camille Lopez
23. Vincent Rattez
WATCH: What rugby fans coming to Oita for the World Cup quarter-finals can expect at night
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