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Ten players withdrawn from France's Six Nations squad

24 Jan 2022

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 20: Antoine Dupont of France makes a break during the Autumn Nations Series match between France and New Zealand at the Stade de France on November 20, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

France have been hit by significant disruption ahead of the Guinness Six Nations, after being forced to withdraw ten players from their 42-man squad, which is preparing for the tournament in Aubagne this week.

Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont, François Cros, Gaëtan Barlot, Anthony Jelonch, Cyril Baille, and Bernard Le Roux have all been removed due to positive Covid-19 results.

23-year-old La Rochelle hooker Pierre Bourgarit has also been removed with the viral infection although reports in France say he is also injured. He is replaced in the squad by Teddy Babigny. The Racing 92 frontrower has one international cap to his name and joins Fabien Galthie’s training squad.

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Added to this, back row Cameron Woki and giant tighthead Uini Atonio have also been removed due to injury.

Swan Rebbadj, Dorian Aldegheri, Louis Carbonel, Léo Coly, Paul Boudehent, Yacouba Camara, Jérôme Rey and Thomas Lavault have been drafted in as replacements.

UPDATED FRENCH SQUAD:

FORWARDS:
Dorian Aldegheri (Stade Toulousain)
Gregory Alldritt (Stade Rochelais)
Demba Bamba(LOU Rugby)
Teddy Baubigny (Racing 92)
Daniel Bibi Biziwu (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Paul Boudehent(Rochelais Stadium)
Yacouba Camara (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Dylan Cretin(LOU Rugby)
Ibrahim Diallo (Racing 92)
Thibaud Flament (Stade Toulousain)
Jean-baptiste Gros (RC Toulon)
Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Thomas Lavault (Rochelais Stadium)
Sekou Macalou (French Stadium Paris)
Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain)
Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain)
Swan Rebbadj(RC Toulon)
Jérôme Rey(LOU Rugby)
Yoan Tanga (Racing 92)
Romain Taofifenua (LOU Rugby)
Florent Vanverberghe (Castres Olympique)
Florian Verhaeghe (Montpellier Hérault Rugby)
Paul Willemse (Montpellier Herault Rugby)

BACKS:
Léo Berdeu (LOU Rugby)
Louis Carbonel (RC Toulon)
Leo Coly (Montois Rugby Stadium)
Baptiste Couilloud (LOU Rugby)
Jonathan Danty (Stade Rochelais)
Brice Dulin (Rochelais Stadium)
Jules Favre (Rochelais Stadium)
Gaël Fickou (Racing 92)
Antoine Hastoy (Pau Section)
Melvyn Jaminet (USA Perpignan)
Matthis Lebel (Stade Toulousain)
Maxime Lucu (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux Begles)
Damian Penaud (Asm Clermont Auvergne)
Thomas Ramos (Toulouse Stadium)
Teddy Thomas (Racing 92)
Tanu Vili (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Gabin Villiere (RC Toulon)

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Comments on RugbyPass

BA 10 minutes ago

All Black Leicester Fainga’anuku's NPC return confirmed

12/13/ wing for the bench I reckon

15 Go to comments

NB 10 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

I think you’re underselling Hastoy a little bit there S. I reckon he’s a better player than that, nor am I convinced Ntamack is such a great game manager at 10 without a strong influence at 9 like Lucu or Dupont inside him. Hastoy takes on more responsibility at LAR than Ntamack does with Toulouse. And I certainly do not know why they started Segonds ahead of him in the first two Tests. Was he unfit?

262 Go to comments

Jimmy 11 minutes ago

The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

All Black pundits blowing smoke………🤔

2 Go to comments

BA 15 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

I thought it was a sabbatical which he has had twice?

44 Go to comments

JW 17 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Even though they drew with France last year?

I haven’t watched the games or followed URC to know if its those same form players though. We’ll have to revisit this come 6N time.

262 Go to comments

NB 19 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Not sure about the Auradou-Brennan equation. I think Auradou is a lineout caller so that may count heavily in his favour.

Depoortere is a good un, but I feel he is already ‘there’ in Galthie’s thoughts before hte tour ever happened! Part of the 2027 group, if you like rather than a newcomer to it.

Mallez I will watch with interest, esp if he can play both sides of the scrum as someone said.

262 Go to comments

JW 19 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Correct by Nick??!! HAHAHAHA he doesn’t even watch SR dude lol

And as I have probably told you already (and Nick has made the point many times as well if you like him as your prophet) one off games do you a lot of good.

Fair enough though that 2017 season was a good go at it, it’s just 2025 now Fran.

You clearly do not follow All Black rugby to a great extent, they are a heavily ‘development’ focused team. They have to be, they live on the smell of an oily rag.

262 Go to comments

JW 23 minutes ago

Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

Haven’t seen the French scrum go so far backwards until this last test…

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JW 24 minutes ago

Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

I can go along with that be we all know to take domestic footy with a grain of salt comparing to internationals. We have just had an example of this from France with all their form guys getting selected over hardened international players and losing badly.

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JW 27 minutes ago

All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Well he is, hes saying what happens with these ‘halves’ doesn’t effect ‘moments’, which is absurd.

Yes the All Blacks have been poor in the second half because they’ve lost ‘moments’. Those ‘moments’ happen in certain conditions that occur in the second half LOL!

118 Go to comments

Jfp123 32 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

It will be great if Jalibert improves in defence, but unless and until he improves substantially, I think he should be out of the running for the national team. If you look at the French A side, attack is not usually so much of a problem - they scored 200 points in the last 6 nations without MJ on the pitch. Defence however can be an issue, Penaud isn’t the greatest in that area for a start. So a 10 who is solid in defence is badly needed. And given his poor defence record, MJ would be bound to be targeted by shrewd coaches like Rassi and Razor, so he needs to be able to withstand that.

Also, given sufficient improvement in defence, there are still factors which tell against MJ. I think the 7/1 bench has been a very successful experiment, and for that you need flexible backs who can play in more than one position in case of injury. Then there’s how well the 10 plays with France’s best 9, Dupont. And even if you think MJ is better when there’s no Dupont or 7/1 split, stability in a test team is important, so it’s better not to go chopping and changing the 10 needlessly. There’s also the question of temperament - MJ doesn’t shine at his brightest when it really matters, eg WC quarters and Top14 finals, and look at his test record over the past 2 years.

I see Ntamack as by far the best option at 10. Rugby is a team game, and apart from his excellent defence, there’s his partnership with Dupont, his versatility, and all the other skills that go to making a great team player and a great 10. He’s excellent under the high ball, an area where France tend to have a weakness, and has fine strategic and team management skills, great handling skills and so on.

While having star quality is important, it’s not the be all and end all, as illustrated by UBB this season. Imo, though undoubtedly very good, they underperformed. With best wings, best 9, as Dupont barely played in the Top14, with Jalibert and leading centres and 15, plus a strengthened forward pack, they couldn’t match ST in points scored, despite the latter’s huge injury list which left some positions seriously weakened, at least on paper.

For next season, I hope ST are back to their scintillating best with injuries healed, that LBB is back to rude health for UBB, that the exciting promise of La Rochelle’s and Toulon’s new recruits bears fruit, Bayonne continue to defy their budget and we have a cracking, highly competitive Top14 and Les Bleus triumphant in the autumn internationals and six nations!

262 Go to comments

JW 36 minutes ago

Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

As pointed out by Nick and the French posters their players can’t cope with both (even sharing the July window like they have been), players are still too exhausted even through the season. And if the french government is going to crackdown even further on them they’re simply going to have/want to change for their own good.