France bring out the 'A-Team' for Scotland rematch
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: French coach Fabien Galthié wielded a heavy axe for the second of his team’s two World Cup warm-up matches.
Scotland edged France 25-21 in Edinburgh last week and the teams have another crack at each other in Paris this coming Saturday.
Only two of last weekend’s starting forwards – second row Cameron Woki and the rookie blindside flank Paul Boudehent – have been retained in an XV that has an entirely different.
Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack both return, after being among a host of frontline players rested for last week’s loss at Murrayfield.
The halfback pairing will be reunited as Galthié restores his side to full strength for France’s second preparation match for next month’s World Cup.
Only back row forward Paul Boudehent, who made his France debut last Saturday, and lock Cameron Woki keep their place in a team showing 13 changes from Edinburgh.
Toulon wing Gabin Villiere comes in for his first cap since last year’s Six Nations when France won a Grand Slam.
He will line up opposite Damian Penaud, with Thomas Ramos at fullback, while there is also a rare start for Gabin Villiere, a try-scoring hero of France’s 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam.
He hasn’t played since that championship due to a rotten injury streak.
France also faces Fiji in Nantes on August 19 and Australia in Paris eight days later ahead of the World Cup.
They kick off the tournament on September 8 against New Zealand.
Les Bleus will also come up against Uruguay, Namibia and Italy in Pool A.
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Florian Verhaeghe, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Date: Saturday, August 12
Venue: Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Kick-off: 21.05 (20.05 UK & Ireland time; 19.05 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
🇫🇷⚡🏴 Voici 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐞́𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐞 pour affronter l’Écosse dans ce deuxième match des Summer Nations Series.
🔜 Rendez-vous à Saint-Etienne samedi à 21h05 💪
📺 @TF1#UnisPourUnRêve #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/5EkiTXg1kG
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) August 10, 2023
