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Named: France bring back battering ram Bastareaud

Mathieu Bastareaud in action for Toulon

Mathieu Bastareaud will make his first France appearance for over two years and the uncapped Anthony Belleau will start at fly-half against New Zealand on Saturday.

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Bastareaud has not played for his country since the Rugby World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks in October 2015, but will start versus the same opponents at Stade de France this weekend.

Belleau is preferred to Francois Trinh-Duc in the absence of Camille Lopez for depleted Les Bleus and will form a young half-back pairing with Antoine Dupont, who gets the nod over Baptiste Serin.

Lock Paul Gabrillagues and back-row Judicael Cancoriet will also make their debuts against the world champions in Paris.

Wing Teddy Thomas returns to the side, having been absent since February 2016.

France: Nans Ducuing, Teddy Thomas, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Yoann Huget, Anthony Belleau, Antoine Dupont; Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Gabrillagues, Judicael Cancoriet, Kevin Gourdon, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Clement Maynadier, Raphael Chaume, Daniel Kotze, Paul Jedrasiak, Anthony Jelonch, Baptiste Serin, Francois Trinh-Duc, Damian Penaud.

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
BA 7 minutes ago
British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Wallabies | 2nd Test 2025 Lions series

Missed multiple kicks at goal threw that pass out kicked one out on the full 6 is fair go I reckon

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Utiku Old Boy 25 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

That is a load of BS.

27 Go to comments
U
Utiku Old Boy 26 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

Too right.

27 Go to comments
B
BA 34 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

If you listen to the ref the contact is a “rugby collision” because they arrive at the ball instantaneously with his eye (along with other refs) but if Morgan is a sec later that is def a penalty on the “contact” but was unavoidable due to both players going down to the collision at same time , now in your eye who was there first?

27 Go to comments
B
BH 38 minutes ago
Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

Everybody knows that if the Wallabies won in similar circumstances, all those UK journalists and former players would be throwing their toys out of the cot and crying like babies. So don’t act holier than thou.


And this is an A+ 9.5/10 Lions team with world-class depth made up of multiple standout players in every single position. On paper they should absolutely flog the bajeezus out of the woeful Wallabies and so far they’ve been barely above average in the two tests.

7 Go to comments
B
BA 41 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

With you on this “instantaneous “ even live I saw Tizzano there first and at the ball easy, Morgan gets there 1 sec later and we not even having this argument as he does hit him on the neck, Joes “gutted” but I don’t think he is upset reckon he is bloody proud

27 Go to comments
S
SM 42 minutes ago
Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

Huh. That's interesting. So how do any of the other 29 players who were cleared out like that during the match manage to get right back up and keep on going. Weird it affected him so badly at that specific time, when Aus really needed a penalty. Very peculiar indeed!

77 Go to comments
B
BA 47 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

Would Rassie have bookended it with ? “ players make errors officials make errors we just have to accept that “ if he said exactly what Joe has Rassie would be in exactly the same position nothing to answer for, Joe was clear on his opinion but ultimately spoke little about it, all in all with the different aspects of the clean out the decision comes down to one thing was it instantaneous? If Morgan did the same thing 1 second later that is def a penalty

27 Go to comments
B
BA 56 minutes ago
'Gutted' Joe Schmidt makes feelings clear over match-deciding call

They are looking at dangerous play right through the match they have a TMO just for that some they get some they miss this one was not hard to hit and was close enough to head for Tizzano to grab his neck as all the players generally do in an attempt to alert the powers that be the 80th with game on the line u going to get scrutiny

27 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

All adds some spice, I’m leaning more to it being a penalty myself but I’m with you def on it not being clear either way, I don’t mind Joe he was clear on his thoughts but also clear on saying that sometimes you get those sometimes you don’t sort of stuff and will only use it to motivate boys and possibly influence reffing 3rd test …he said he was “gutted” but u could tell he was ultimately pretty happy and should be

7 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | Lions series

Because when u go 6/2 it doesn’t matter only playing half the game, but I hear u remember watching Big Willy back in the day just thinking “ get him fit Tahs!” Thought he was great on WE and obviously cares now which is what Oz rugby should have shown him and others back in the day

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

People if you cannot see that Oz is on the up I don’t know do u watch rugby? they will be up against it in RC there are zero easy weeks in that but I’m only seeing them getting better and with $$$ from this tour they finally getting their pathways set and a ability to secure young talent

108 Go to comments
G
GP 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

“Crap”, sounds like DMAC in the Super Final. People like you see these crazy AB selections , by ironically Scott Robertson , as some sort of payback for the Super Rugby result.More fool you guys. You got Super Rugby comp/final wrong and Finau, ALB , Dmac, Beaudy and all of Razors new found friends have no chance of winning the World Cup.Then there is Jacobsen . Runners Up United , keep on picking them.

308 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

This is not the worst Wallabies ever I have seen far worse Oz teans and a lot of those ended up being a heap better by EOY,Old Joe could make a few changes to this 23 and get similar results

108 Go to comments
B
BA 1 hour ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

In the rugby world they do tho, tell me you will not be tuning in

108 Go to comments
P
PS 1 hour ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Haven’t a clue what your on about.

108 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 2 hours ago
Three decisions that went badly wrong for the Wallabies

Yeah, Australia were never going to win test one anyway. He was one questionable ref's call away from being called a genius for springing a huge upset in test two, while giving his power players the best possible opportunity to perform in the decider. His attack patterns did an incredible job of making the most of his scant resources against a far superior group of players.

3 Go to comments
R
Rob 3 hours ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Read the thread and engage your reading comprehension skills to see that you’re ignoring all the context you need

108 Go to comments
R
Rob 3 hours ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

Wasn’t so hard was it, that’s literally all I’ve been saying….

108 Go to comments
R
Rob 3 hours ago
Many Springboks fans are saying same thing about the Lions

My brother in Christ I used an absolute to describe a predetermined specified group of people. The losers online going into comment sections chanting about the boks when it’s not about them. I have three different people calling me uneducated and stupid when none of you are capable of reading. I beg you, for the sake of every person in your life, engage your brain and read from the very top of the thread what is being talked about. I don’t like assuming people are trolls but if you can’t do that much you might as well be.


💀💀💀

108 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality