The last audition for Dupont's position ahead of Bok showdown
PREVIEW: La Rochelle’s Nolann Le Garrec, Bordeaux-Begles’ Maxime Lucu and Clermont’s Baptiste Jauneau have one last opportunity to push their case to stand in for Antoine Dupont for France during the Nations Series, when they feature in the French Top 14 this weekend.
Le Garrec faces Lyon in Saturday’s early game, while Lucu is set for an injury return against Bayonne, and Jauneau is up against Castres later in the day.
Next week, Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie will pick two of them to stay in France’s training headquarters for the weekend, and miss the ninth round of the Top 14, to prepare for the campaign opener against South Africa on November 8.
A week later, Galthie’s outfit face Fiji before then playing Australia the following Saturday.
“Nolann counts in the debate, of course,” Galthie told newspaper Sud-Ouest this month before naming the trio in his squad on Wednesday.
“But Max will return, Baptiste Jauneau is performing well with Clermont.
“The more competition, the better it is for the team,” he added.
Le Garrec is the favourite to start against the Springboks, having impressed in all three of the losses to New Zealand in July.
“The coaches told me that I had to use that tour as a springboard for what’s to come,” Le Garrec told radio station RMC Sport on Wednesday.
“I’m more confident in certain aspects of my game, and I hope to continue to develop.
“If the next step is the South Africans, Fiji or Australia, it’s great,” the 23-year-old added.
‘Help France shine’
Superstar Dupont is sidelined with a serious knee injury until December, with Le Garrec and Lucu having stood in for him since suffering the issue in March.
Despite the issue, Olympic gold medallist Dupont is expected to train with Les Bleus in the build-up to next month’s games.
“The idea is not to compete with Antoine, it’s about playing well with France to compete with opposition teams,” Le Garrec said.
“We all wear the same jersey as Antoine, and our common goal is to help France shine.
“I focus on my rugby, my qualities, where I need to progress,” he added.
As well as at scrumhalf, the other headaches for Galthie are at tighthead prop with Uini Atonio and Tevita Tatafu out injured, as well as in midfield.
Gael Fickou’s usual partner Yoram Moefana has a dislocated shoulder, opening the door to Pierre-Louis Barassi, Nicolas Depoortere, in addition to Pau teammates Fabien Brau-Boirie and Emillien Gailleton.
Gailleton, like Le Garrec, played in all three of the All Black defeats in July.
“I don’t consider myself a starter in the France national team though,” Gailleton told radio station France Ici on Monday.
“I still have some work to do,” the 22-year-old added.
Gailleton’s club are the surprise leaders of the Top 14 before the eighth round of games and head to Racing 92 on Saturday having edged past champions Toulouse last weekend.
“Being well-placed after seven rounds is great, but the season is long,” Gailleton said.
“We still have everything to do,” he added.
