France rugby team lineup against Fiji, Championnat des nations, Digi Mart USA News (Lyon, France): For the first time since March 2025, Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack will reform the most-used halfback partnership in the history of the France XV, according to the publisher.
Coach Fabien Galthié announced on Thursday, November 5, that the two Toulouse players will run the team’s game against Fiji on Saturday, November 7, at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, kicking off at 9:10 p.m. local time.
The match, the fourth round of the Championnat des nations, will be broadcast live on TF1, TF1+ and TF1info.
Galthié has been forced to make several changes because of a series of injuries affecting Thomas Ramos, Matthieu Jalibert, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Demba Bamba, Julien Marchand, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibault Flament, Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou and Marko Gazzotti. France was beaten 32-34 in New Zealand this summer before winning in Australia 42-26 and in Japan 42-15.
Bordeaux players Maxime Lamothe and Sipili Falatea will start in the front row alongside Jean-Baptiste Gros, while Florian Verhaeghe and Mickaël Guillard will be paired in the second row. Paul Boudehent, Cameron Woki and François Cros will line up in the back row.
Bayonne’s Esteban Capilla is expected to earn his first cap from the bench.
In the backline, the staff selected Yoram Moefana and Kalvin Gourgues as the centre pairing, with wingers Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who stood out this summer, on either side. Pau’s Théo Attissogbe moves to fullback.
The bench will include six forwards and two backs, with Maxime Lucu and Émilien Gailleton providing versatility.
Damian Penaud and Grégory Alldritt, who have returned to training at Marcoussis, were not named in the match-day squad, although Penaud is among the reserves.
