The second row of Stade Français Paul Gabrillagues, who has not played in Blue since the 2019 World Cup in Japan, will start against Ireland in the opening match of the Six Nations Tournament, Friday in Marseille, where center Yoram Moefana will start on the wing. Three months after the disappointment of the World Cup in France, coach Fabien Galthié brought back ten of the fifteen starters from the quarter-final lost to South Africa (29-28).
⚡️☘️ – in Marseille! #XVdeFrance#NeFaisonsXV#FRAIRLpic.twitter.com/9nYG34lTGZ
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) January 31, 2024
Paul Gabrillagues holder
Gabrillagues (30 years old, 16 caps) has not played for Blue since the quarter-final, lost against Wales (20-19), during the 2019 World Cup in Japan: 1580 days later, he will therefore experience a seventeenth cap, his first start since the victory against Tonga (23-21) in Japan, taking advantage of the injuries of Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou as well as the poor form of Cameron Woki.
The Stade Français captain is associated in the cage with Montpellier’s Paul Willemse (31 years old, 31 selections), who missed the World Cup due to injury and who has not started since the victory against Australia ( 41-17) in August.
The other main novelty is called Yoram Moefana: the Bordeaux-Bègles center has relegated his teammate Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20 years old, 7 selections) to the bench, starting on the wing during the 2023 World Cup but less on the bench. comfortable on aerial balls than Moefana, a key sector against the Irish holders. The Futunien will play with the N.11 jersey in Blue for the first time since the victory over Fiji (34-17) on August 19.
François Cros will be lined up alongside Charles Ollivon and Grégory Alldritt
Another entrant, the third row François Cros (29 years old, 27 selections), who will be lined up alongside Toulonnais Charles Ollivon and La Rochelle captain Grégory Alldritt. Cros, who was a substitute against the Boks, replaces his partner in Toulouse, Anthony Jelonch, injured in his right knee against Bath (31-19) in the Champions Cup nine days ago.
Finally, scrum half Maxime Lucu (31 years old, 18 selections) is once again associated in the hinge with his Gironde teammate Matthieu Jalibert. Lucu, usual No.2 in the hierarchy, replaces captain Antoine Dupont, who gave up on the Tournament to prepare for the rugby sevens events of the Paris-2024 Olympic Games. Still undefeated with the French XV, Lucu had already taken over as interim during the World Cup, after Dupont’s jaw fracture.
In total, this selection has 28 years and 31 selections on average. The bench is articulated in 6-2 (six forwards, two backs), with Bielle-Biarrey and scrum half Nolann Le Garrec.
Line-up of the Blues against Ireland:
Ramos – Penaud, Danty, Fickou, Moefana – (o) Jalibert, (m) Lucu – Ollivon, Alldritt (cap.), Cros – Willemse, Gabrillagues – Atonio, Mauvaka, Baille
Substitutes: Marchand, Wardi, Aldegheri, R. Taofifenua, Woki, Boudehent, Le Garrec, Bielle-Biarrey
Reservists: Barlot, S. Taofifenua, Abadie, Gibert, Lebel