On August 5, Cyril Baille posted on Instagram a photo of him on his hospital bed, thumbs up. The left pillar of Stade Toulousain and the XV of France had just been operated on for an adductor. Three months later, to the day, the international with 36 selections should start on Saturday evening against Australia, for the first of three November test matches for the Blues, before South Africa and Japan. With, for sole reference, 34 (good) minutes of play in the Top 14, last Saturday in Bayonne (29-22 defeat).
As of Sunday, Baille was recalled by Fabien Galthié and his staff, and his possible presence on the bench already surprised the “mundillo” of the followers of the XV of France. This Thursday in Marcoussis, the 29-year-old wore the flocked chasuble of number 1 in the incumbent team, in place of Toulonnais Dany Priso, who had been the tenant since the start of the rally. Last week, the tricolor forwards coach William Servat welcomed “the extent of the reservoir that we can have in this position”, despite the absence at that time of Baille, but also of his natural replacement. , Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros (radius fracture), and Rochelais Reda Wardi (suspended).
Obviously, the “reservoir” is still not full enough to avoid the emergency recall of Toulousain, whose last match before this weekend dates back to the championship semi-final lost against Castres (24-18) on June 17. “He told us that he could resume earlier [que Bayonne] “, However, relativizes his teammate Peato Mauvaka, who will be replacing Saturday in Saint-Denis.
Ntamack also short of competition
The Baille case is reminiscent of that of his other club colleague Romain Ntamack, who will start at the opening against the Wallabies when he has no longer played since September 11 and his sprained ankle against Toulon (28-8).
In total, the leader of the Top 14 could have seven representatives in the starting XV: in addition to Thomas Ramos, Ntamack, captain Antoine Dupont, Anthony Jelonch, Baille and Julien Marchand, Thibaud Flament will step out of his role as finisher in the 2nd row if the Montpellier Paul Willemse had to forfeit. “We made the choice to save it this afternoon, revealed Thibault Giroud, the performance manager of the Blues. He has a little discomfort in his thigh. We will know a little more at the end of the day, the coaches will make a decision. »
The 23 players called up against Australia will be announced on Thursday, with the expected presence on the bench of the versatile Parisian 3rd line Sekou Makalou and of the right pillar of UBB Sipili Falatea to the detriment of Montpellier Mohamed Haouas, yet one of the captains of the Galthié era.
The likely XV: Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Moefana – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Ollivon, Alldritt, Jelonch – Flament (or Willemse), Woki – Atonio, Marchand, Baille.