XV of France, 6 Nations Tournament: six novices and no Montpellier in the group of 34

XV of France, 6 Nations Tournament: six novices and no Montpellier in the group of 34

Des nouveaux visages chez les Bleus. MAXPPP – Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium

The coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthié called on Wednesday six novices in the group of 34 players brought to prepare the first match of the Six Nations Tournament against Ireland, Friday February 2 in Marseille.

The second row of Toulouse Emmanuel Meafou, eagerly awaited, will be accompanied by the Toulon forwards Matthias Halagahu and Esteban Abadie, the young center of Bordeaux-Bègles Nicolas Depoortère and the hinge of Racing 92, made up of the half of melee Nolann Le Garrec and opener Antoine Gibert.

The third row of La Rochelle Grégory Alldritt was preferred to that of Toulon Charles Ollivon for the role of captain in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who is skipping the Tournament to devote to rugby sevens in the hope of competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Meafou (25 years old) already discovered the national center of Marcoussis (Essonne) last year, but the player of Australian origin, who arrived in Toulouse at the end of 2018, was not yet eligible for the French team.

This is now the case and his debut in the blue jersey is highly anticipated as his extraordinary physique (145 kg, 2.03 m) wreaks havoc week after week on the pitches. Top 14 and Champions Cup.

The first call-up of Gibert (26 years old) was less expected, even if the fly-half has had a string of good performances at Racing since the departure of the Scotsman Finn Russell. His teammate in Hauts-de-Seine, Le Garrec (21), already knows the French environment, but is still waiting for his first selection.

Created world champion with the French under-20 team last summer, Depoortère (21 years old) is benefiting from the good dynamics of Bordeaux-Bègles, including the attack line will be widely represented among the Blues, with six elements.

The presence in this first post-World Cup list of Toulonnais Halagahu (22 years old), second row, and Abadie (26 years old), third row, constitutes a surprise, like that of the second row of Stade français Paul Gabrillagues (30 years old), back more than four years after his last appearance in blue.

No Montpellier

Eleven of the 33 players who participated in the World Cup are not there: hooker Pierre Bourgarit, props Sipili Falatea and Jean-Baptiste Gros, second row Thibaud Flament (injured), scrum halves Antoine Dupont (rugby sevens) and Baptiste Couilloud, second row Bastien Chalureau, third row Sekou Macalou, fly-half Antoine Hastoy, winger Gabin Villière and center Arthur Vincent (coach's choice). ;nbsp;Paul Willemse, executive of the Blues from 2020 to 2023, is also not present in this list.

The group of 34

Pillars: Uini Atonio, Dorian Aldegheri, Thomas Laclayat, Reda Wardi, Cyril Baille, Sébastien Taofifenua

Tailers: Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Gaétan Barlot

Second lines: Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Matthias Halagahu, Paul Gabrillagues, Emmanuel Meafou

Third lines: Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt, François Cros, Esteban Abadie.

Dismissed from scrum: Maxime Lucu, Nolan Le Garrec

Opening half: Antoine Gibert, Mathieu Jalibert

Centers: Jonathan Danty, Nicolas Depoortere, Gaël Fickou, Emilien Gailleton, Yoram Moefana 

Wingers: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Mathis Lebel

Backs: Melvyn Jaminet, Thomas Ramos

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