Fabien Galthié has revealed his team composition for Saturday’s match against Wales, counting for the last day of the 6 Nations Tournament. With two changes from the victory in England last Saturday.
It is an almost unchanged XV of France which will try to confirm its formidable victory at Twickenham last week by beating Wales this Saturday (kick-off at 3:45 p.m.) at the Stade de France for the last day of the Tournament of 6 Nations. While the XV of France still has a small chance of keeping their trophy (the Blues are four points behind Ireland, who will host England at 6:00 p.m.), Fabien Galthié has made only two changes to his starting XV .
Two changes that concern the forwards. Suspended three weeks after his yellow card received in Ireland, Uini Atonio is allowed to play again, and the Rochelais regains his starting place. A few days before celebrating his 33rd birthday, he will honor his 50th selection. Mohamed Haouas had replaced him against Scotland, but the Montpellier player received a red card and was suspended for four weeks. Then it was Dorian Aldegheri who took the place of right pillar in England, and even if he was not unworthy, the staff preferred Atonio to him, and the Toulousain (affected by adductors) is also one of the players who were sent back to their club on Wednesday. Atonio will be lined up on the front line alongside the irremovable Toulousain Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille.
In the second row, it was necessary to replace Paul Willemse, affected in the hamstrings, and Fabien Galthié decided to call on Romain Taofifenua. The 32-year-old Lyonnais will celebrate his 43rd selection, the first as a starter since the match against Japan during the Autumn Tour, for which Paul Willemse (for whom he is the designated substitute) withdrew. “Tao” will be aligned alongside Thibaud Flament. The other lines remain unchanged. The third line remains formed by Charles Ollivon, Grégory Alldritt and François Cros. The Toulousains Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack keep their place in hinge, just like Damian Penaud and Ethan Dumortier on the wing and Jonathan Danty and Gaël Fickou in the center. No. 15 will once again be on the shoulders of Thomas Ramos. For a fourth victory in this 2023 Tournament?
The starting XV against Wales: Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Dumortier – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap) – Alldritt, Olivon, Cros – Taofifenua, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Baille
The finishers: Mauvaka, Wardi, Falatea, Chalureau, Macalou, Lucu, Moefana, Jaminet
