“They all scored points. “These words are those of the coach of the Blues, Fabien Galthié after the victory of the XV of France over Fiji (34-17) at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, Saturday August 19. A solid performance haloed by three tries signed Mauvaka, Atonio and Macalou.
A third test, the last before the announcement of the 33 on Monday, to confirm the status of some, raise the level of play of others, in the absence on the field of executive players like Antoine Dupont or Thomas Ramos. If we should not expect big surprises for this list, the staff had to make choices.
Against Fiji, fullback Melvyn Jaminet imposed his kicking game, scoring 19 points, just that. The Toulousain is chosen, at the expense of Rochelais Brice Dulin, captain of the Blues during the defeat against Scotland on August 5 (25-21).
Full list of selected Pillars: Baille (Toulouse), Wardi (La Rochelle), Gros (Toulon), Atonio (La Rochelle), Aldegheri (Toulouse) Falatea (Bordeaux-Bègles) Hookers: Marchand (Toulouse), Mauvaka (Toulouse), Bourgarit (La Rochelle)Second lines: Flament (Toulouse), Taofifenua (Lyon), Willemse (Montpellier), Woki (Racing)Third lines: Jelonch (Toulouse), Alldritt (La Rochelle), Ollivon (Toulon), Cros (Toulouse) , Boudehent (La Rochelle), Macalou (Stade Français) Scrum-half: Dupont (Toulouse), Lucu (Bordeaux-Bègles), Couilloud (Lyon) Fly-half: Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles), Hastoy (La Rochelle) Centers : Fickou (Racing), Danty (La Rochelle), Vincent (Montpellier), Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles) Wingers: Penaud (Bordeaux-Bègles), Villière (Toulon), Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles) Fullbacks: Ramos (Toulouse ), Jaminet (Toulouse).
One player scored points with the staff: Louis Bielle-Biarrey and his famous red helmet. At 20, the rear winger of Union Bordeaux-Bègles was not unworthy. Full of desire and author of a test against the XV du Thistle for his first selection with the Blues, his versatility should be a real asset for the France team.
In the center, the Palois Émilien Gailleton, top try scorer for the 2022-2023 season in the Top 14 with 13 tries, sees his dream of playing in the World Cup fly away. The Héraultais Arthur Vincent, who responded to the physical Fijians, therefore joins the experienced Gaël Fickou, Jonathan Danty and Yoram Moefana in this position.
As a scrum half, Baptiste Couilloud is doing well, he who scored the very first tricolor test of these summer tests against the Scots. Consequently, Baptiste Serin is about to leave. Antoine Hastoy and Matthieu Jalibert are confirmed at the opening after Romain Ntamack forfeited following a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the left knee, an injury suffered during the second match against Scotland on August 12.
As for Cyril Baille, also touched during this meeting, he figures well in the choices of Galthié. If the prop is out for five to six weeks and won’t be able to feature in the September 8 opener against the All Blacks, he is likely to return after the group stages.
On the side of the third line, Anthony Jelonch (25 selections), injured in the knee during the Six Nations tournament 2023, is in the game. It must be said that the player surprised everyone during his rehabilitation: “The surgeon does not understand what is happening with Anthony Jelonch”, said Fabien Galthié before the start of the preparation of the Habs. Still in this position, Paul Boudehent, 24, and European champion with La Rochelle, performed well against Scotland and won his ticket for the World Cup.
Next meeting for the Blues, Sunday August 27, for their last preparation match. It will be against Australia at the Stade de France, kick-off at 5:45 p.m.
