6 Nations 2024 – Sekou Makalo, Yoan Tanga… big absentees from France’s XV list for Italy preparation

But what could Sekou Makalo have done to disappear so much from the radar since the World Cup? The Stade Française third line was an important component of Fabian Galthy’s first command. Rarely a starter but always the favourite, he had his napkin ring in the Marcoses and his habits.

And despite his flaws (who doesn’t have them?), the third row rarely disappoints with a blue jersey on his shoulders. On the wing, his sensational entry into the winger position against South Africa during the November tour made an impact and his versatility kept him from going astray. Before the tournament, The coach justified the absence of the Sarcelles native for Ireland’s preparations: “These are just the rules of the competition. In our eyes, it was important that Sekou Makalo could fight to participate in the last World Cup because he was one of the important components of the adventure before the event. But for the players who are neck and neck, there is room for imitation today: In the third row, Esteban Abadi has also challenged Sekou Macaulou.”

So Parisians lost their place in the name of imitation. It must be said that his recovery after the World Cup was not really good, even if for several weeks the big Sekou (1.96 m and 110 kg) gained momentum, as evidenced by his last match with Stade Francis. on the Oionax lawn. He will have to do more to find the French team and move on from the new boys: Esteban Abadi and more recently Marco Gazzotti, the first, 19 springs and an incredible ease of touch that benefits the talent for the second.

Meafou and Flament are still very fair

We can also talk about Rochelles’ Yoan Tanga, who was pre-selected to play in the World Cup and has since been forgotten from the French XV. A more logical choice given the season of A very likely future Parisian, less impressive with La Rochelle than the same period last year. In the big maritime matches, Tanga often find themselves on the sidelines, with Ronan O’Gara judicel concoriate, Levine Botia and Paul Boudehant alongside Gregory Alldrit.

In any case, this list of 34 is still orphaned by Thibaud Flement and Emmanuel Mefau. The two Toulouse residents have definitely resumed racing for more than two weeks, But still no collective training, At least at the beginning of the week. and like We revealed it to you, they are quite justified in pretending to face Nacional on February 25 in Lille. Absence of weight, especially the French team could not count on its last two captains Gregory Alldrit and Antoine Dupont for reasons you know (big wound on the left knee for the number 8, preparation for the Olympic Games for the scrum half).

Guibert passed Hastoy

Apart from the arrival of Marco Gazzotti, Fabian Galthi has kept the same men since the start of the competition. Thus, at the starting half position, Antoine Guibert retains his position as a super sparring partner behind the untouchable Mathieu Jalibert. It has been observed, Antoine Hestoy is still absent from the France group, despite his recent successful performances with club La Rochelle. Lucide, ex Pelois Reconsidered his non-choice After the win against Montpellier on Day 14. “My absence from the blues list? Of course it stung me. Obviously angry. So now I’m doing everything so that people can see that I can be there.”

Meanwhile, Racingman benefits. At 26, the man who started rugby at the age of 5 in the ACBB still hasn’t had a chance in blue. Left out of the final group against Ireland, he did not apply for the tour to Scotland due to a foot problem. Time will tell if the flyhalf gets a chance to prove himself in this tournament after Jalibert’s controversial start to the tournament.