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France make four changes for Scotland rematch
By Liam Heagney
France have made four changes to their starting line-up to face Scotland next Saturday at Murrayfield.
The French burst into their pre-World Cup schedule with a massive 32-3 win over the Scots last Saturday in Nice and coach Jacques Brunel has opted to tweak only a few things for the rematch.
Guilhem Guirado, Felix Lambey, Arthur Iturria and Thomas Ramos all come into the starting XV as the French look to replicate last weekend’s win where they registered five tries in their 29-point success.
The debut-making Alivereti Raka scored inside just two minutes and they never looked back, Maxime Medard and Gregory Alldritt adding further first-half tries before Medard and Antoine Dupont crossed after the break.
Brunel wasn’t expected to pick his latest team as early as Tuesday, but such is the confidence now suddenly coursing through the France camp the coach decided not to wait until later in the week to announce who will play for him in Edinburgh.
Skipper Guirado returns at hooker in place of Camille Chat, Lambey comes in at second row, Iturria is included in the back row while Ramos takes over from two-try Medard at full-back.
Paul Gabrillagues, who was cited by independent citing commissioner Shaun Gallagher (England) for alleged dangerous play in the 17th minute last weekend, has been omitted as he is due to face a disciplinary hearing in London on Tuesday compromising chair Antony Davies (England), former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland) and former international player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa).
Outside of team selection for their second warm-up match for the finals in Japan where they will face England and Argentina, the French have confirmed that Fijian-born Virimi Vakatawa will join the group on Wednesday to replace Geoffrey Doumayrou, the midfielder whose training ground injury ended his World Cup last Thursday.
FRANCE (v Scotland, Saturday)
Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Fofana, Raka; Lopez, Dupont; Iturria, Alldritt, Ollivon, Vahaamahina, Lambey, Slimani, Guirado, Poirot. Reps: Chat, Baille, Setiano, Taofifenua, Camara, Serin, Ntamack, Medard.
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Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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