Cedric Hunter
We take the same and start again. Fabien Galthié announced this Thursday in Marcoussis the composition of the French XV which will face England on Saturday evening (9 p.m.) in Lyon, on the last day of the VI Nations Tournament. And the Blues coach, unsurprisingly, decided to continue.
“When we are satisfied with the collective performance, we touch it less.” Patrick Alerttaz, coach in charge of the attack of the XV of France, had somehow spilled the beans on Wednesday at a press conference. We should not expect any major upheavals in the composition of the Blues, who will face England on Saturday in Lyon, at the end of the VI Nations Tournament. A trend already seen this week during training, and which Fabien Galthié confirmed this Thursday.
“Reply now again”
At a press conference, the coach of the French rugby team renewed his confidence in the players who brilliantly beat Wales last Sunday in Cardiff (24 – 45). There is no change in the starting XV, nor on the substitutes’ bench. “It was last weekend’s performance”, which motivated Fabien Galthié in his choice not to touch his score sheet. “We chose to do things consistently, to feel the energies. It’s always the pitch that speaks,” adds the coach, who speaks of a “remobilization” of his players last week.
The boss of the Blues notably decides to renew the duo formed by Nolann le Garrec and Thomas Ramos as a hinge, associated for the first time together from the start and authors of a solid performance during the last match. Nicolas Depoortere in the center, Emmanuel Meafou in the second row and Léo Barré at the back, will for their part experience their second selection with the XV of France. “This same team has a new challenge. We must respond again,” declared Fabien Galthié, when discussing the upcoming clash against England, beaten a year ago at Twickenham 50 to 10, during a record victory for the XV of France on the other side of the Channel.