The Six Nations Tournament having started badly for the French, with three worrying matches, Fabien Galthié decided to reshape his team to face Wales on Sunday March 10 (4 p.m.) in Cardiff. Eight changes are announced, with four first tenures.
Second-row Emmanuel Meafou, scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, center Nicolas Depoortère and full-back Léo Barré will be on the pitch with the Blues at kick-off on Sunday. They will join, returning from injury, the third row and captain Grégory Alldritt (26 years old, 47 caps) and the winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20 years old, 9 caps).
Driven by circumstances (injury to fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, suspension of center Jonathan Danty, poor form of scrum-half Maxime Lucu, etc.) as much as the results, coach Fabien Galthié brought in full-back and scorer Thomas Ramos (28). , 34 sel.) at the opening, where he will partner Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec.
Julien Marchand finds a starting place
After three first selections coming off the bench, Le Garrec will be able to show that he has the shoulders to be the replacement for the untouchable Antoine Dupont, busy with rugby sevens and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This change of position from Ramos also allows Stade Français fullback Léo Barré (21) to earn his starting stripes.
The colossal Toulouse second row Emmanuel Meafou (25 years old, 2.03 m tall and 145 kg), naturalized at the end of 2023 and finally recovered from a sprained knee, will also make his entry into the Starting XV, alongside his club partner Thibaud Flament (26 years old, 24 selections), also just returned from injury.
UBB nugget Nicolas Depoortère (21), U20 world champion, will be partnered in the center with Gaël Fickou after a sparkling start to the season and the red card received by Jonathan Danty against Italy.
Finally, hooker Julien Marchand finds a starting place, in place of his partner from Stade Toulouse Peato Mauvaka. Marchand had not started in Blue since his injury during the opening match of the World Cup, against New Zealand (27-13), on September 8, 2023.
The Blues started the competition with a heavy setback against Ireland (37-18), followed by a lucky victory in Scotland (20-16) and a catastrophic draw against Italy (13-13).
The composition of the XV of France against Wales
Barré – Penaud, Fickou, Depoortère, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ramos, (m) Le Garrec – Ollivon, Alldritt (cap.), Cros – Meafou, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Baille
Substitutes: Mauvaka, S. Taofifenua, Colombe, R. Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana
Reserves: Lamothe, Aldegheri, Abadie, Gibert, Lebel
