The third line of La Rochelle Grégory Alldritt has been appointed captain of a largely redesigned XV of France to face Fiji, Saturday in Nantes, third and penultimate match of preparation for the World Cup-2023 (September 8-October 28). Two days before the announcement of the list of 33 players called up for the World Cup, the second line of Montpellier Paul Willemse and the third line of Toulouse François Cros have been recalled.
To replace Romain Ntamack, package for the entire competition, the staff of the XV of France gave their preference to the opener of La Rochelle Antoine Hastoy (26 years old, 3 caps) rather than his counterpart from Bordeaux-Bègles Matthieu Jalibert ( 24 years, 24 caps).
The return of Arthur Vincent
He will be associated for the first time with UBB scrum half Maxime Lucu (30 years old, 15 caps), lucky charm of the XV of France since he has never yet tasted defeat in Blue. At the back, the Toulousain Melvyn Jaminet (24 years old, 13 sel.) will experience his first tenure in Blue since a victory against England (25-13) in March 2022. The rear triangle is completed by two players from the ‘UBB on the wings, Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20, 2 caps) and Yoram Moefana (23, 17 caps).
Affected respectively in the thigh and hamstrings, the second line of Montpellier Paul Willemse (30 years old, 30 caps) and the third line of Toulouse François Cros (29 years old, 20 caps) also find the team of France.
Another comeback, the center Arthur Vincent (23 years old, 15 caps): important player at the start of Fabien Galthié’s mandate, the Montpellier player, who found the Blues in Scotland a fortnight ago, will start a test match for the first time in more than two years plagued by injuries. He will be associated with Rochelais Jonathan Danty (30 years old, 21 caps), with Alldritt, the only other survivor of the victory against the XV du Chardon (30-27) in Saint-Etienne.
Composition of the XV of France to face Fiji: Jaminet – Bielle-Biarrey, Danty, Vincent, Moefana – (o) Hastoy, (m) Lucu – Cretin, Alldritt (cap.), Cros – Willemse, Verhaeghe – Atonio, Mauvaka, Wardi
Replacements: Bourgarit, Gros, Laclayat, Chalureau, Flament, Macalou, Serin, Jalibert
Reservists: Marchand, Aldegheri, Boudehent, Couilloud, Gailleton, Dulin