the composition against Wales, without Penaud and Taofifenua

It’s over for the press point of the XV of France.

“What happens in the world is not neutral but we are focused. We have to represent France in Wales. We can listen, see, imagine but that’s all. It’s not neutral what is happening in the world.”

“We have consideration for the released players but we also told them that anything could happen. This was the case on Wednesday.”

“He had just landed in Toulouse and couldn’t shout but I said congratulations to him.”

“We try to do things in order. We heard from Penaud and Taofifenua then we communicated it to the rest of the group. Then we had a meeting with Fabien Galthié to find out who would replace them. Then we wrote to the group. We try to remain transparent with our players.”

Ibanez: “The players were tested at each meeting. We don’t regret having sent them home between matches.”

And Galthié to continue: “We are very sad for the two players dismissed.”

“The roof will remain open due to sanitary conditions in Wales. We will have the public and maybe a little rain.

“There is a wonderful atmosphere in this stadium. The stadium and the public with the Welsh choirs, it gives goosebumps. The players will remain four minutes in the dark while waiting for the Welsh to enter the field. We are in the sublime and marvelous of rugby. It is a nation with few inhabitants but which has brought out great players. We have an appointment with the sublime and the marvelous against Wales.”

“The status of challenger or favorite has no impact. The word that comes to mind for the Welsh is respect. They have won the Tournament several times in recent years. This is not the case for France. “

“We saw that he had been pushed against Scotland. It’s part of the journey, we say things to each other and he analyzed his match. We accept criticism. The important thing is complementarity and the fact to tick the boxes. Some boxes are easier to tick depending on the opponent and the conditions of the match. In Scotland it was very windy and this hindered the aerial balls and the kicking game. In Wales We will surely have less wind but the roof will be open and we may have rain. The aerial game is a collective management with the pressure put on the opponent and the help brought to the ground for the receiver. cannot isolate a single player, it would weaken him.”

“We are always looking for performance and progression. We have players who are gaining experience and maturity. We have grown for 23 games, this will be the 24th game. They have not played them all But the scrum is about skill and complementarity. Their experience and their level make them worth playing. But the finishers are also there and there is a form of emulation that pushes everyone. matches have played them with six or seven in the front row. There is really altruism between them.”

“He is very good. He sends good messages in training. We also send a message of support to Demba Bamba.”

“We have to adapt. We changed our finishers with a potential 5-3 instead of a 6-2. Lebel returns to the scoresheet and Moefana on the field. Villière returns after missing Scotland. Damian Penaud and Romain Taofifenua were packing their bags to come and are in isolation. It’s violent news for them. But we have to continue. The guys who are returning are ready. Yoram Moefana, Matthis Lebel and Momo Haouas are ready.

“[D’autres joueurs positifs avant le match?] We are preparing for it. We are preparing for it. We will be retested a priori. But we have no additional information. It is the VI Nations committee that will impose the rest on us on Thursday, to know if we retest or not. We don’t know and we are waiting for information. But we are preparing (for possible packages).”

The XV of France against Wales: Jaminet – Moefana, Fickou, Danty, Villière – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap) – Jelonch, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Woki – Atonio, Marchand, Baille.

Finishers: Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas, Cretin, Flament, Lucu, Ramos and Lebel.

Bad news for the Blues, Damian Penaud and Romain Taofifenua tested positive for Covid this Wednesday morning. The two players will not be traveling to Cardiff.

“In the preamble and it is not trivial because it has an impact on the team composition. Damian Penaud and Romain Taofifenua will not be traveling to Cardiff following positive tests for Covid-19, indicated the manager of the Blues Raphaël Ibanez. We had been rather spared in terms of players during our competitive period. But that’s how it is. We have the resources to go and face Wales in Cardiff.”

A few more minutes of patience before the start of the XV de France press conference with Fabien Galthié and Raphaël Ibanez.

It should start around 12:15 pm eventually.

The XV of France trained with Gabin Villière on the wing on Tuesday. The Toulonnais, package in Scotland, should resume his place. If Grégory Alldritt was back during the high-intensity session on Tuesday, Gaël Fickou, with the flu in his turn, was spared but he should however be able to hold his place on Friday evening, just like Antoine Dupont who nevertheless had to cut short his session after being shot in the left arm.

The XV of France likely against Wales: Jaminet – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Villière – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap) – Jelonch, Alldritt, Cros – Willemse, Woki – Atonio, Marchand, Baille

>> All the details on the probable composition

Fabien Galthié, coach of the France team, and Raphaël Ibanez, manager, will appear before the press at noon to reveal the composition and justify the choices.

Welcome to our live to follow the announcement of the composition of the XV of France to face Wales, Friday (9 p.m.) at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.