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France receive huge injury boost with two stars returning to face Namibia
By Josh Raisey
Fabien Galthie has recalled a number of his regular starters for France's meeting with Namibia on Thursday in Marseille after his second-string squad failed to take their opportunity against Uruguay last week.
The head coach had made 12 changes to the starting XV from the team that had beaten the All Blacks in the opening game of the World Cup, but after they failed to pick up a bonus point in a sloppy win over the South Americans he has reverted back to his frontline players.
The starting XV at the Stade Velodrome will be almost as strong as France could possibly put out, save for No8 Gregory Alldritt, and the team have received the extra boost of starting loosehead Cyril Baille and centre Jonathan Danty. La Rochelle's Danty picked up a hamstring injury days before the All Blacks clash but is now fit to start, while Baille has made a swifter return than many expected from his calf injury, as he was initially expected to miss the pool stages.
Though the lack of a bonus point against Uruguay is unlikely to prove too consequential, the performance may have led to some players playing themselves out of contention of starting in France's bigger games this World Cup.
After facing Namibia this Thursday, France have a two week break before closing the pool stages with Italy in Lyon.
France XV
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Damian Penaud
13. Gael Fikou
12. Jonathan Danty
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont (c)
1. Cyril Baille
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Cameron Woki
5. Thiabuad Flament
6. Francois Cros
7. Charles Ollivon
8. Anthony Jelonch
Replacements:
16. Pierre Bourgarit
17. Reda Wardi
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Romain Taofifénua
20. Paul Boudehent
21. Baptiste Couilloud
22. Yoram Moefana
23. Melvyn Jaminet
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Latest Comments
I reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
Go to commentsHaha did he always say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
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