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France make six changes in decidedly callow XV to face England

PA

France have made six changes to their team to face England in Sunday’s Autumn Nations Cup final following last weekend’s group stage win over Italy in Paris. Two of them were expected due to limits on game time in the agreement with the Top 14 clubs.
Pierre-Louis Barassi, Sébastien Bézy abd Guillaume Ducat are named on the bench.

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It is a massively understrength side, with the majority of the 23 with less than 10 caps apiece.

FRANCE AUTUMN NATIONS CUP TEAM FOR ITALY:
15. Brice Dulin
14. Aliveriti Raka
13. Yoram Moefana
12. Jonathan Danty
11. Gabin Villiere
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Baptiste Couilloud
8. Selevasio Tolofua
7. Anthony Jelonch
6. Cameron Woki
5. Baptiste Peseti
4. Killian Geraci
3. Dorian Aldegheri
2. Pierre Bourgarit
1. Hassane Kolingar

REPLACEMENTS:
Peato Mauvaka
Rodrigue Neti
Uini Atonio
Guillaume Ducat
Sekou Malacou
Sebastian Bezy
Louis Carbonel
Pierre-Louis Barassi

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    T
    TI 8 minutes ago
    The growing exodus of Australasia’s biggest rugby athletes must stop

    What a depressing read. It’s largely in the money. NFL can throw around the kind of buck no one can compete against.

    France have the best domestic league in the world because they have more money to spend than other competitions.



    ...

    8 Go to comments
    J
    JW 8 minutes ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    Breakdown I assume? Not surprised by those results at all.

    If you where to take away Beaudens first 4 years at 10 (34 of his first 51 tests) either side of 2015, I’d imagine you, a) get a more even spread of games shared amongst the three, and b) find that him and Dmac swap for first and second against most teams (bar perhaps SA).



    ...

    25 Go to comments
    J
    JW 17 minutes ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    I’m surprised you don’t follow Nick Bishops thought that not coming up trumps is actually a red herring rather than an indicator of anything.

    25 Go to comments
    J
    JW 19 minutes ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    Actually they started under Hansen, predominantly where Beauden and Richie struggled at 10.

    But yes, Foster was present and probably not helping things then as well.



    ...

    25 Go to comments
    J
    JW 20 minutes ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    Yes most they are just great prospects. Ratima has some great running instincts but doesn’t seem to bustle himself about with that power and energy he has, it needs to be really loose for him to flourish and beat a better opposition 9. Hotham is still a very young gun with more willpower than knowledge. Preston has it all but is only tried and SR level and his performance their didn’t build, it got more lackluster if anything. Fakatava can’t seem to get on top of the mental game required for a static or weak pack, which could often be the type of pack NZ might select on bsed on form (this July).

    I’m sure one of those is atleast going to be a better back than they had at the last WC though (if you exclude the fact they didn’t select Roigard).



    ...

    25 Go to comments
    W
    Wayneo 26 minutes ago
    How the Springboks’ No 10 options will keep the All Blacks guessing

    I think it’s safe to say that as soon as Tony Brown walked through the door the SB’s left the past 100 years behind them.

    18 Go to comments
    J
    JW 29 minutes ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    Haha as 1hundy as any one eyed converted cantabrian can get!

    25 Go to comments
    G
    GP 42 minutes ago
    Ex-All Black coach Steve Hansen's verdict on Richie Mo'unga's new deal

    Well said . Richie Mo’unga was treated appallingly by Steve Hansen and Ian Foster. The guy should have been the first choice from 2018 onwards. As you say the dual player maker role was a disaster and undermined Richie completely. I agree with your other comment that Razor has gone down the same path pandering to Barrett and McKenzie, at the expense of others. You can throw up and coming Northland and Crusaders 10, Rivez Reihana , another who should be looked at.

    25 Go to comments
    C
    Cantab 47 minutes ago
    'There's no future': Former All Blacks pick their halfback for first Argentina Test

    Ratima is yet to prove he is international class but likely to get the chance to establish his credentials. Good luck to him. BB is now the leading 10 but whether he remains as such is yet to be determined. Note that RM was excellent at super rugby level when Razor was his coach so don’t take too much store of his form under Foster who wasn’t much cop when in charge with the ABs. Razor was prepared to move heaven & earth to get RM back so it is yet to be seen which of BB & RM is ultimately preferred. I believe that both these players would serve NZ well and there will be a place in the team for both.

    3 Go to comments
    H
    Hammer Head 1 hour ago
    How the Springboks’ No 10 options will keep the All Blacks guessing

    It’s a better dilemma than having the dilemma of only having half a flyhalf, with the real deal only arriving in 2026.

    I hope BB is wrapped up in some cotton wool because if he goes down with another injury it’s going to be a looong RC.



    ...

    18 Go to comments
    H
    Hammer Head 1 hour ago
    The growing exodus of Australasia’s biggest rugby athletes must stop

    Exacle.

    8 Go to comments
    H
    Hammer Head 1 hour ago
    How the Springboks’ No 10 options will keep the All Blacks guessing

    Sounds like the Beauden Barret playbook. Kick or kick.

    18 Go to comments
    H
    Hammer Head 1 hour ago
    How the Springboks’ No 10 options will keep the All Blacks guessing

    I would say that the only pressure Erasmus and his coaching team is under is to get all his fly halves to >80% goal kickers. It’s been our biggest weakness at 10, inconsistency off the tee.

    Manie seems to have worked on his technique quite significantly. Shorter run up. Etc.



    ...

    18 Go to comments
    t
    thewizard 1 hour ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    The 10 is not the problem, we have Beauden and Richie as a back up. The problem is at 9 where all we have is Box Kicks and Bash usually in the wrong half of the field!

    25 Go to comments
    J
    Jmann 1 hour ago
    England complete prep for Women’s Rugby World Cup with win over France

    maul a lot of pushovers did they? Yawn

    2 Go to comments
    J
    Jmann 1 hour ago
    How the Springboks’ No 10 options will keep the All Blacks guessing

    like…will they kick or just kick?

    18 Go to comments
    G
    GP 1 hour ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    Thanks for the disingenuous statement.Bryn Hall is 100% correct in what he says.

    25 Go to comments
    O
    Over the sideline 2 hours ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    So full stats showing the win loss ratio of all 3 10s against the 3 RC teams and the other top 3 teams in the world,sn’t a level of analysis eh. Just proved my point beyond doubt. Thanks.

    Agree about a pack, but basicallythe 3 10 options all played with mostly the same packs as it was against the top sides.



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    25 Go to comments
    A
    Ardy 2 hours ago
    'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

    “no matter what is proven, people don’t change there (sp) views.” Oh! yes they do, but not on your level of analysis. AB’s go well when they have a decent pack. We (Wallabies) haven’t had a decent pack for a fair while and it shows.

    25 Go to comments
    O
    Over the sideline 2 hours ago
    Ex-All Black coach Steve Hansen's verdict on Richie Mo'unga's new deal

    That may be true. And he will not be re-signed because he lost another WC. OR….. He will not be willing to sacrifice his own ambitions so won’t choose the least winning 10 we have. And there will be nothing you cry babies can do about it 🤢🥶🥳

    25 Go to comments
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