The high-intensity training session yesterday provided valuable insights into the intentions of the French team’s staff. Here’s what to take away from the day of the Blues.
There is hardly any suspense left, unless there is a medical surprise. In the minds of the French XV staff, Antoine Dupont will indeed start as scrum-half against the Boks on Sunday evening. This is the main outcome of the high-intensity training.
qui s’est déroulé hier à Rueil-Malmaison. Antoine Dupont est apparu avec un casque noir à liseré blanc et a participé normalement à la séance (avec la chasuble numéro 9 dans le dos) dans l’équipe des probables titulaires dont les noms seront annoncés vendredi par Fabien Galthié.
During this high-intensity training, the Haut-Pyrénéen, however, took the precaution of shifting to the wing when his team was in a defensive phase, just to avoid any risks before the match.
Then, a little later, during a press conference, it was the moral support of his teammates and one of his coaches that further validated the theory of his starting position. “Antoine is someone intelligent, someone sensible. If he says he can play again, it means he is fully capable of doing so,” explained flanker Grégory Alldritt, while scrum coach William Servat assured that “Antoine Dupont is doing very well. He remained involved, even during his rest period, even from a distance. He needed recovery but he has always been committed.”
Un banc à six avants ?
Maxime Lucu will be relegated to the bench due to his appointment. The composition of the bench has been a subject of debate within the team’s staff. Previously, the team had favored a composition of five forwards and three backs, but the opposing team’s bench, which consists of six or seven forwards, may prompt the staff to reconsider and build a bench with six forwards. This would include the five forwards who played against Italy (Wardi, Bourgarit, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, and Cros), along with Sekou Macalou, a flanker who can also play on the wing, as he did in the last match between the two teams in November 2022. This leaves only two spots on the bench for the backs: Maxime Lucu and another back, potentially Yoram Moefana, who can cover the positions of center and winger. As a result, Melvyn Jaminet, who can only cover the fullback position, would be left out.
For the rest, we are leaning towards the same team as against Italy; Anthony Jelonch and Louis Bielle-Biarrey now having a slight advantage over François Cros and Gabin Villière, respectively.
Le XV de départ probable : Ramos ; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarrey (o) Jalibert, (m) Dupont ; Ollivon, Alldritt, Jelonch ; Flament, Woki ; Atonio, Mauvaka, Baille.