Without surprise the formation of the XV of France. Three months after the World Cup disappointment in France, coach Fabian Galthy returned ten of the fifteen stars who lost in the quarter-finals against South Africa (29-28) this Wednesday.
Stade Francis second-row Paul Gabrielges, who has not played in Blue since the 2019 World Cup in Japan, will start at centre-back to face Ireland this Friday in Marseille (9 pm) in the opening Six Nations tournament. UBB Yoram Moefana who will start on the wing.
Holders of Gabriellegs and Moifa
Paul Gabriels (30 years, 16 caps) has not played for the Blues since the quarter-finals during the 2019 World Cup in Japan, lost to Wales (20-19). After 1,580 days, he will therefore experience a seventeenth cap, his first start since the win against Tonga (23–21) in Japan, taking advantage of injuries to Thibaud Flement and Emmanuel Mefou, as well as the poor form of Cameron Walkie.
The Stade Francais captain is joined in the cage by Montpellier’s Paul Willemse (31 years, 31 caps), who missed the World Cup due to injury and did not start since the win against Australia (41-17) in August.
Another major innovation is called Yoram Mofna. The Bordeaux-Bayles center relegated teammate Louis Biele-Bayer (20 years old, 7 selections) to the bench, who started on the wing during the 2023 World Cup but was less comfortable on aerial balls than Moifana, a key area against the Irish holders.
Futunien will play in the blue N.11 jersey for the first time since the victory over Fiji (34-17) on August 19.
Average age of 28 years
Another entrant, third line François Cross (29 years, 27 caps), who will line up with Toulonnaise Charles Olivonne and La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt. Cross, who was a substitute against the Boks, replaces his Toulouse partner Anthony Gellonch, who injured his right knee against Bath (31-19) in the Champions Cup nine days ago.
Finally, the scrum half Maxim Luku (31 years old, 18 selections) is once again linked at the hinge with his Girondin team-mate. Matthew Jalibert.
Lukou, the usual No. 2 in the pecking order, replaces captain Antoine Dupont, who left the tournament to prepare for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games rugby sevens event.
Still undefeated with the French XV, Luku took over as interim during the World Cup, after DuPont suffered a fractured jaw.
In total, this selection has an average of 28 years and 31 selections.
The bench is articulated in a 6-2 (six forwards, two backs) with Biel-Byrre and scrum half Nolan Le Garec. At the last minute this Thursday, young Perpignan Posolo Tuilaghi joined the second-line French XV to replace Romain Taophifenua. “Suffering”.
Blues line-up against Ireland
Holders: Ramos – Penaud, Dainty, Ficou, Moifana – (O) Jalibert, (M) Luku – Olivone, Aldrit (capt.), Kroos – Willems, Gabriellegs – Atonio, Mouwaka, Bale
substitute : Marchand, Vardy, Aldegheri, Tuilaghi, Vaughey, Boudehent, Le Garec, Biele-Bayre
Reserves: Barlott, S. Taofifenua, Abadi, Guibert, Lebel
