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Antoine Dupont returns but Toulouse team-mate cut from 42-man France squad

207 days ago

Antoine Dupont of France during the Men's Rugby Sevens Gold Medal match between Team Fiji and Team France on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on July 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Antoine Dupont has returned to the France XVs squad after missing the first half of 2024 as he focussed on his ultra-successful switch to sevens.

After helping France win Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics in July, the scrum-half has devoted himself fully to the 15-player format again, and has been in sensational form for Top 14 leaders Toulouse.

Dupont will not be joined by his Toulouse team-mate Julien Marchand, however, who has been a surprise omission by Fabien Galthie, although he is currently dealing with a small muscular problem. The Toulouse contingent is also bereft of prop Cyrille Baille and fly-half Romain Ntamack, two certainties if they were fit.

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Eleven members of the reigning French and European champions Toulouse have made the squad, including lock Josh Brennan, son of former Ireland international Trevor Brennan.

Brennan is one of eight uncapped players in the squad, four of which are from Bordeaux Begles – back-rows Pierre Bochaton, 23, and Marko Gazzotti, 20, hooker Maxime Lamothe, 26, and full-back Romain Buros, 27. The remaining three are Bayonne prop Tevita Tatafu, 22, Lyon fly-half Léo Berdeu, 26, and Toulouse centre Paul Costes, 21.

Fixture

Internationals

France

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Full-time

Japan

All Stats and Data

France host Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina in November, completing a trio of matches against the Pumas this year following a 1-1 series draw in July.

France squad (Current club / first club)
Forwards
Grégory ALDRITT (La Rochelle / FC Auch)
Uini ATONIO (La Rochelle / Auckland Welsey Collège)
Gaëtan BARLOT (Castres Olympique / AS Montferrandaise)
Pierre BOCHATON (Bordeaux Bègles / Rugby Trévoux Chatillon)
Paul BOUDEHENT (La Rochelle / SCO Rugby Angers)
Joshua BRENNAN (Toulouse / Toulouse Lalande Aucamville XV)
Georges-Henri COLOMBE (La Rochelle / Racing Nanterre Rugby)
François CROS (Toulouse / RC Seilh-Fenouillet)
Thibaud FLAMENT (Toulouse / ASUB Rugby Waterloo)
Marko GAZZOTTI (Bordeaux Bègles / FC Aix les Bains)
Jean-Baptiste GROS (Toulon / RC Tarascon)
Mickaël GUILLARD (Lyon / RC Maurepas Élancourt
Anthony JELONCH (Toulouse / UA Vicoise)
Maxime LAMOTHE (Bordeaux Bègles / Pessac Rugby)
Peato MAUVAKA (Toulouse / URC Dumbéa)
Emmanuel MEAFOU (Toulouse / Brothers Old Boys)
Lenni NOUCHI (Montpellier / AS Béziers Hérault)
Charles OLLIVON (Toulon / Saint-Pée UC)
Alexandre ROUMAT (Toulouse / AS Hossegor)
Romain TAOFIFENUA (Racing 92 / AL Echirolles)
Sébastien TAOFIFENUA (Lyon / AL Echirolles
Tevita TATAFU (Bayonne / EUA High School)
Reda WARDI (La Rochelle / Montpellier)

Backs
Théo ATTISSOGBE (Pau / Peyrehorade Sports Rugby)
Léo BARRÉ (Stade Français / RC Versailles)
Léo BERDEU (Lyon / OL Grasse)
Louis BIELLE-BIARREY (Bordeaux Bègles / RC Seyssinois)
Romain BUROS (Bordeaux Bègles / Avenir Aturin)
Paul COSTES (Toulouse / Toulouse UC)
Jonathan DANTY (La Rochelle / ASPTT Paris)
Antoine DUPONT (Toulouse / Magnoac FC)
Gaël FICKOU (Racing 92 / US Seynoise)
Antoine FRISCH (Toulon / Paris Université Club)
Émilien GAILLETON (Pau / Cahors Rugby Saint Cadurcien)
Mathieu JALIBERT (Bordeaux Bègles / ASS Stade Calédonien)
Nolann LE GARREC (Racing 92 / RC Vannes)
Mathis LEBEL (Toulouse / Lombez Samatan Club)
Maxime LUCU (Bordeaux Bègles / Saint-Pée UC)
Yoram MOEFANA (Bordeaux Bègles / USA Limoges)
Damian PENAUD (Bordeaux Bègles / EV Malemort Brive Olympique)
Thomas RAMOS (Toulouse / SC Mazamet)
Gabin VILLIÈRE (Toulon / RC du Bocage Virois)

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Comments

6 Comments

fl 206 days ago

The depth on show here is astonishing. No other team on earth comes close.

It will be interesting to see who Galthié goes with as his starting XV, as they don't seem to have a settled lineup atm.

JPM 206 days ago

Unfortunately Ntamack is out for 3 weeks due to small injury but might be back for the ABs game.

Fortunately Galthié now seems conscious that Danty-Fickou should be replaced before the next WC. Costes, Frisch, Gailleton represent the future.

The other problem is the props. Baille (injured) and Atonio don’t have yet clear and undisputed replacements. Fortunately Aldeghieri is no more in the list.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 5 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 6 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 6 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 6 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 6 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 6 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍