1
Meafou one of three France debutants to face Wales in Cardiff
By PA
Three players will make their Test debuts when France face Guinness Six Nations opponents Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.
France head coach Fabien Galthie has called up full-back Leo Barre, centre Nicolas Depoortere and lock Emmanuel Meafou for the Principality Stadium clash.
Barre takes over from Thomas Ramos, who moves to fly-half instead of an injured Matthieu Jalibert, with Depoortere replacing a suspended Jonathan Danty and Meafou preferred to Posolo Tuilagi.
Elsewhere, captain and number eight Gregory Alldritt returns after injury, with other changes following a 13-13 draw with Italy seeing starts for wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, hooker Julian Marchand and lock Thibaud Flament.
France have won their last four Six Nations games against Wales, but they are seeking only a second victory of this season’s tournament.
Team: L Barre; D Penaud, G Fickou, N Depoortere, L Bielle-Biarrey; T Ramos, N Le Garrec; C Baille, J Marchand, U Atonio, T Flament, E Meafou, F Cros, C Ollivon, G Aldritt (capt).
Replacements: P Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, G Colombe, R Taofifenua, A Roumat, P Boudehent, M Lucu, Y Moefana.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
'Bulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth
3
'Damaging' Jordie Barrett move only helps All Blacks- ex-Ireland wing
4
Pieter-Steph du Toit on the now infamous RWC semi-final halftime spray
5
Latest Comments
Boks are lucky to have a player of the calibre of PSDT in their ranks😍
Go to commentsI really like what the boks have done with bringing Vermeulen into their coaching setup. Perhaps they would have gone to france anyway, but Lawes and Farrell could at least have been offered assistant coaching roles. Lawes could probably aptly fill the brief (breakdown, contact skills, and handling) just given to Strawbridge; and Farrell could be a pretty good like for like replacement for Sinfield when he leaves. I probably wouldn’t want them in the national team set up just yet, but it would be good to see strings pulled to either get May, Youngs, Cole, & Care player-coaching roles in the premiership, or to move them into the under 20s coaching staff.
Go to comments