Galthie's bold claim on Dupont's replacement Lucu
SPOTLIGHT: France head coach Fabien Galthie said it was “impossible” to drop Maxime Lucu for this weekend’s Six Nations title decider with Scotland in Paris.
Scrumhalf Lucu starts Saturday’s game instead of Antoine Dupont, having replaced the injured talisman in last weekend’s demolition of title holders Ireland.
Victory at the Stade de France guarantees Les Bleus the trophy for the second time since 2022.
“When a player puts in a performance like that, it’s impossible to tell him we’re making changes,” Galthie told reporters.
“Considering we’re playing a week later, and what’s at stake, it’s impossible to drop players who performed well against Ireland.
“The selection is based on performance, and Max [Maxime Lucu] put his hand up without any doubt,” the former France captain added.
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The 32-year-old Lucu is one of two changes from last Saturday’s win in Dublin as the experienced Gael Fickou replaces Pierre-Louis Barassi in midfield to partner Yoram Moefana.
Barassi suffered a head injury in the Ireland win after superstar captain Dupont had sustained a serious knee issue, ruling him out for at least six months.
The 30-year-old Fickou will join former centre Philippe Sella as France’s most-capped player in the tournament when he makes his 50th competition appearance.
The Racing 92 centre makes his first start of this Six Nations after recovering from a hand injury and beats Moefana’s Bordeaux-Begles’ Nicolas Depoortere to the No.13 shirt.
“Gael [Fickou] is part of the players that automatically are in France’s wider squad,” Galthie said.
“He [Depoortere] plays very well with his club, he has the advantage of often playing with Yoram.
“We studied the two possibilities and chose Gael,” Galthie added.
Alldritt skipper
No.8 Gregory Alldritt leads the side, as he did in the Irish capital following Dupont’s injury.
La Rochelle’s Alldritt has started all of Les Bleus’ games this campaign, having been dropped for November’s win over Argentina after a string of below-par performances for club and country.
“He managed to work in the right way to find a solution to become a player again who performs well for France,” Galthie said about the two-time Champions Cup winner.
“He has a connection with the decision makers in the team, those who manage the defence and the attack, it’s his role.
“He’s done the necessary work to put things right to become the player he is and the player he wants to be,” Galthie added.
On the substitutes’ bench, Galthie has kept his choice of six forwards and one back, with Le Garrec coming in for Lucu.
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