France rugby probable XV against Fiji, Digi Mart USA News (Marcoussis, France): Four days before France’s first November match against Fiji, coach Fabien Galthié appears to have settled on his selections. Training at Marcoussis on Tuesday offered several insights into the shape of the Blues, according to Midi Olympique, which was present at the session.
The most notable surprise involves Sipili Falatea. The Bordeaux-Bègles prop, currently third choice on the right of the scrum at UBB, could make his first international start after 15 caps.
Florian Verhaeghe is also expected to benefit from the withdrawal of Thibaud Flament. The Montpellier giant had a remarkable 2026 and excelled during France’s summer tour of the southern hemisphere, and he was among the probable starters.
His intensity is expected to be valuable against the powerful Fijian forwards.
The France pack could weigh around 900 kg, making it one of the lightest forward units of the Galthié era. That density raises questions ahead of matches against Fiji and then the Springboks, although weight alone does not decide a game.
François Cros’s move to No. 8, with Woki and Boudehent alongside him, confirms this direction. The approach offers more mobility and activity, but possibly less raw power in contact.
Behind the scrum, the picture is more dynamic. Attissogbe, Grandidier-Nkanang, Gourgues, Moefana and Bielle-Biarrey could form an explosive back line, supplied by the Dupont-Ntamack halfback pairing.
Such a line promises an appealing contest against the Fijian backs. The first verdict of the autumn comes on Saturday evening, late in the night in Lyon.
