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A dozen changes for France versus Japan after troubled summer tour
By Liam Heagney
Fabien Galthie has named a France team to host Japan in Paris on Saturday showing a dozen changes 17 weeks after they lost to Argentina to round off their 2023/24 season. The French were beaten 25-33 in Buenos Aires on July 13, a result that gave the Pumas a one-all Test series draw.
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That tour had gone ahead without the French being able to select at full strength due to the conclusion of Top 14 won by Toulouse in the final versus Bordeaux in Marseille.
Galthie, though, has now been able to assemble a full-strength squad for the three-match Autumn Nations Series featuring matches versus Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.
For the Japanese game, which marks a first return to the Stade de France for the French since last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final elimination to South Africa, only full-back Leo Barre, outside centre Emilien Gailleton and loosehead Jean-Baptiste Gros are retained from the tour-ending loss four months ago.
Among the five changes to the back line are the recall of Antoine Dupont, who spent his summer helping France to men’s rugby sevens gold medal glory at the Olympics, winger Damian Penaud and out-half Thomas Ramos.
Up front, where there are seven pack alterations, lock Thibaud Flament and No8 Gregory Alldritt are back in the mix.
?? Samedi, vos Bleus ???? ?? ?????? au @StadeFrance ! ????#XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #FRAJPN pic.twitter.com/GrycYXve2z
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) November 7, 2024
If Jalibert and Ramos are not back at #10 and #15 respectively against ABs, I will start to think Galthié likes to play with fire.
Same old in consistent & choking France.
Sorry Liam but your article seems to be missing the core issue as highlighted by the French rugby media.
The main meaningful changes compared to the last two years are as follows:
- Moefana-Gailleton preferred to Danty-Fickou « old generation »
- Roumat preferred to Ollivon
- Tatafu becoming a serious contender to replace Atonio
- in the absence of Ntamack, Ramos preferred to Jalibert (like for the end of the 6N) and Barré playing 15 despite a delicate starting of the season
For Tatafu, may be we should wait for his first game before talking about à " serious contender"....
Ok, I get your point but what about Costes? Surely he is the future and he's already got the skills to pay the bills.