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France make two changes to their team to face Scotland
By Online Editors
Fabien Galthie has made two changes to France’s starting XV for their round four Guinness Six Nations match at Scotland on Sunday.
The only side still capable of achieving the Grand Slam in this year’s tournament, the French visit Murrayfield on the back of February wins over England, Italy and Wales which has them on course for a first title success since 2010.
One of the changes from Cardiff has been injury-enforced, Jefferson Poirot taking advantage of the injury to Cyril Baille who had jumped ahead of him in the prop pecking order this year. Jean-Baptiste Gros remains on the bench as back-up.
The other switch sees fit-again winger Damian Penaud come in for Teddy Thomas. A calf injury had ruled Penaud out of the February matches but his return has resulted in Thomas’ exclusion from the squad.
There had been doubt over whether hooker Camille Chat would be involved as he was injured in the win over Wales, but he has reported fit enough to take a spot on the bench in Edinburgh.
FRANCE: A Bouthier (Montpellier); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), V Vakatawa (Racing 92), A Vincent (Montpellier), G Fickou (Stade Francais); R Ntamack (Toulouse), A Dupont (Toulouse); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), J Marchand (Toulouse), M Haouas (Montpellier), B Le Roux (Racing 92), P Willemse (Montpellier), F Cros (Toulouse), C Ollivon (Toulon, capt), G Alldritt (La Rochelle). Reps: C Chat (Racing 92), J-B Gros (Toulon), D Bamba (Lyon), R Taofifenua (Toulon), D Cretin (Lyon), B Serin (Toulon), M Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), T Ramos (Toulouse).
WATCH: Jim Hamilton previews the Murrayfield clash between Scotland and France
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Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
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