France Name Strong Team To Host Springboks

 

France head coach Fabien Galthie named his line-up to host the Springboks this weekend in Paris at 22:10 (SA Time) with Gael Fickou named as captain. Galthie has opted for a 6/2 split on the bench.

Thomas Ramos is included at full-back, with Bordeaux-Begles duo Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey named on the wings. Pierre-Louis Barassi joins skipper Fickou in midfield, while Romain Ntamack and Nolann le Garrec are the halfbacks.

Mickael Guillard comes in at eighthman replacing Alldritt. Paul Boudehent and Anthony Jelonch join him on the side of the scrums.

Toulouse teammates Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament start at lock, with Regis Montagne, Julien Marchand and Baptiste Erdocio named as the starting front-row combination.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Gael Fickou, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Mickael Guillard, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Baptiste Erdocio. Replacements: 16 Guilaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortere.