New skipper for France as Galthie makes six changes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France will have a returning player donning the captain’s armband this weekend against Fiji.
Gregory Alldritt will captain the French in the Nations Series this weekend, having been dropped for the humbling defeat to South Africa.
No.8 Alldritt, 28, was omitted from the squad for last weekend’s 17-32 loss to South Africa in Les Bleus’ campaign opener.
The La Rochelle loose forward is one of six changes for the game against the Pacific Islanders in Bordeaux on Saturday.
He replaces Gael Fickou, who drops out of the matchday squad, as skipper and stands in for regular captain Antoine Dupont, who has been out with a serious knee injury since March.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Nicolas Depoortere, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (captain), 7 Anthony Jelonch, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Thomas Laclayat, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux
Kick-off: 21.10 (20.10 GMT; 08.10 FJT, Sunday, November 16)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)