1
France make five changes to XV to face Scotland in Six Nations title decider
By Liam Heagney
France have made five changes to their XV to host Scotland in Paris this Friday in the rescheduled Guinness Six Nations round three game that will decide whether the hosts or the table-topping Wales will be crowned 2021 champions.
The French, who denied the Welsh the Grand Slam with a dramatic match-winning, clock-in-the-red try from Brice Dulin last Saturday, need a four-try bonus-point win and a 21-point margin of victory to become champions for the first time since 2010.
It's a tall order and to aid their efforts, coach Fabien Galthie has changed a third of his starting XV. With Mathieu Jalibert out injured, Romain Ntamack takes over at out-half for a first start in this year's tournament while there is also quite a positional reshuffle further out due to just one change in personnel.
With last weekend’s right wing Teddy Thomas dropping to the bench, Damien Penaud switches from left to right, midfielder Gael Fickou moves from inside centre to left wing while Arthur Vincent comes in from the replacements to start at No12.
The other three changes are all in the pack. With second row Paul Willemse suspended following his red card versus the Welsh, Swan Rebbadj is promoted from the bench where he will combine in the engine room with the called-up Bernard Le Roux. Romain Taofifenua drops to the bench.
Meanwhile, at blindside, Anthony Jelonch takes over from Dylan Creyin who will be a replacement on this occasion. With Ntamack promoted to start at out-half, Anthony Bouthier comes onto the bench where there is a five/three split between forwards and backs.
FRANCE (vs Scotland, Friday)
15. Dulin; 14. Penaud, 13. Vakatawa, 12. Vincent, 11. Fickou; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont; 8. Aldritt, 7. Ollivon (capt), 6. Jelonch, 5. Rebbadj, 4. Le Roux, 3. Haouas, 2. Marchand, 1. Baille. Reps: 16. Chat, 17. Gros, 18. Atonio, 19. Taofifenua, 20. Cretin, 21. Serin, 22. Bouthier, 23. Thomas.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
We can all see this problem, eh? Love the clips showing how smart opposition coaches exploit it though. Thanks, Nick.
Borthwick has obviously earned the right to expect people to look elsewhere when the sort of personal problems likely at the heart of Jones' departure occur but it's hard to believe he's, if not entirely to blame, at least most of the problem.
England seem between choices in every aspect of their play to me right now
Go to commentsBM My rugby fanaticism journey began as a youngster waking up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee to watch the Boks play the ABs on that 1981 rebel tour, where we lost the last game in the dying seconds to a penalty, and ended up losing the series 2-1. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Ray Mordt, and DuPlessis, to name a few; what a team! I believe we could've won another World Cup with those boys playing in their prime.
Go to comments