France rugby team probable lineup against Fiji, Digi Mart USA News (Marcoussis, France): In four days, the French XV will face Fiji in Lyon to open the Nations Championship. On Tuesday morning, coach Fabien Galthié’s squad held its first full group training session of the week on the training ground at Marcoussis.
Only Axel Desperes and Paul Graou, who both played in the eighth round of the Top 14 on Sunday evening, were rested.
The session largely confirmed what was already known. Sipili Falatea is expected to start at tighthead prop, alongside Maxime Lamothe, who impressed during the last summer tour, and Jean-Baptiste Gros.
In the back row, Cameron Woki and Paul Boudehent are expected to flank François Cros, who has been repositioned at No. 8 in the absence of injured players Marko Gazzotti and Anthony Jelonch.
The backline will be centered by Toulouse halfback Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Théo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang are expected to form the back three that will try to contain the Fijian attack.
The only surprise from the French session was the likely start of Montpellier’s Florian Verhaeghe at No. 4. He was absent from Galthié’s first squad list, but after a strong final season and solid performances in the Southern Hemisphere last summer, he is expected to start and push Hugo Auradou to the bench, as reported earlier this week.
Probable starting XV: 15. Attissogbe; 14.
Grandidier, 13. Gourgues, 12.
Moefana, 11. Grandidier-Nkanang; 10.
Ntamack, 9. Dupont (captain); 7.
Woki, Cros, 6. Boudehent; 5.
Guillard, 4. Verhaeghe; 3.
Falatea, 2. Lamothe, 1.
Gros. Replacements: 16.
Mauvaka, 17. Poirot, 18.
Montagne, 19. Auradou, 20.
Ollivon, 21. Jegou, 22.
Lucu, 23. Gailleton.
