CONFIRMED: France coach Galthie steals Bok tactic for Rome clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: France head coach Fabien Galthie has revealed his team for Sunday’s Six Nations Round Three clash against Italy in Rome
Thomas Ramos, who played the first two Six Nations matches this year at fullback, has been restored to the flyhalf position.
Ramos will partner his Toulouse teammate Antoine Dupont at halfback on Sunday after Galthie dispensed with Mathieu Jalibert earlier in the week.
Jalibert, who was himself covering for the suspended Romain Ntamack, has paid the price for a mediocre game in the 25-26 defeat by England at Twickenham which saw him subbed off after 66 minutes with scrumhalf Dupont taking over at 10.
In a big move, Galthie has gone for a 7-1 split on the bench with Maxime Lucu the only back and fit-again Toulouse flank with Anthony Jelonch making his first appearance for France since the World Cup quarterfinal exit against South Africa in 2023.
The 7-1 bench split is a tactic that the Springboks are known for using in big Test matches.
Meanwhile, Leo Barre, who was a breakout star for the French in last year’s Six Nations, takes over Ramos’ role at fullback for his first game of the tournament.
Damian Penaud, who needs just one try to equal Serge Blanco’s record of 38 for France, has also been left out after an indifferent game against the English.
Penaud missed the November Tests with a lung virus and was absent from the victory over Wales with a toe issue.
His place goes to Pau wing Theo Attisogbe who played the opener against the Welsh, scoring two tries in France’s 43-0 thrashing.
Galthie has stuck with the centre pairing of Pierre-Louis Barassi and Yoram Moefana even though the experienced Gael Fickou is available again after missing the first two rounds through injury.
Tne one change in the forwards sees a new pair of locks with Mickael Guillard, who has been on the bench thus far in the tournament, partnering Thibaud Flament who returns from injury.
They replace Emmanuel Meafou, who is out with a lung infection, and Alexandre Roumat who drops to the bench.
It will be the 50th meeting between the two teams with France well ahead on the results record, having won 45 and lost three.
Their most recent encounter in last year’s Six Nations in Lille finished 13-13, the only draw in their shared history.
France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacement: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Anthony Jelonch, 23 Maxime Lucu.
Date: Sunday, February 23
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Six Nations
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