France XV rugby squad selection against Fiji, Digi Mart USA News (Lyon, France): The French national rugby team is preparing to launch its autumn campaign against Fiji on Saturday at 9:10 p.m. in Lyon, with a lineup that mixes established veterans and forced selections.
Facing numerous absences, head coach Fabien Galthié has had to inject fresh blood into the squad. Among them is Bayonne back-row forward Esteban Capilla, 23, called up at the last minute to the bench to replace the injured Oscar Jegou.
The main attraction of the match lies at the heart of the game, with the highly anticipated return of the halfback partnership of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Despite multiple injuries in recent years, the two Toulouse stalwarts, who have already started together six times this season at club level, are now reunited in the French jersey.
The coaching staff highlights this valuable continuity as it approaches the eighth season of this cycle, with the ambition of relying on their considerable collective experience. Around them, the three-quarter line gives a prominent role to youth and speed: Théo Attissogbe will play at fullback, flanked by Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang on the wings.
In the centre, with Fabien Brau-Boirie absent, Toulouse player Kalvin Gourgues, 21, with four caps, will make his first international start alongside Yoram Moefana.
The forward pack also features several changes. Galthié has opted for an unprecedented back row combining Cameron Woki, François Cros (positioned at number 8) and Paul Boudehent.
In the second row, with Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou absent, Florian Verhaeghe is rewarded for his strong summer tour performances and will start alongside Mickaël Guillard.
Finally, the front row sees Maxime Lamothe start at hooker alongside Peato Mauvaka on the bench, while Bordeaux player Sipili Falatea takes on the challenge at loosehead prop.
With this innovative lineup, the French side aims to beat Fiji to ideally launch its November before facing the heavyweights of the Southern Hemisphere.
Starting XV: Attissogbe – Grandidier-Nkanang, Gourgues, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont – Woki, Cros, Boudehent – Guillard, Verhaeghe – Falatea, Lamothe, Gros.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Poirot, Montagne, Staniforth, Ollivon, Capilla, Lucu, Gailleton.
