FRANCE COACH FABIEN Galthie has announced that captain Antoine Dupont will play at out-half against South Africa in their Nations Championship match.
Les Bleus are missing their four first-choice number 10s in Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy and Thomas Ramos, who usually plays at full-back but is also a top-class out-half.
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Dupont and Maxime Lucu had been widely expected to line up in the half-back positions, but with the captain retaining his scrum-half spot.
Lucu had come on at out-half outside Dupont against Fiji last week to replace Ntamack, who suffered a shoulder injury just past the half-hour mark.
But against the Boks, their roles will be reversed.
Galthie has opted to beef up his pack against the fearsome Springbok forwards on Friday night at the Stade de France, with Julien Marchand picked in place of Maxime Lamothe at hooker.
Former captain Gregory Alldritt makes his return to the team for the first time in a year at No.8 with fellow back-rower Paul Boudehent injured.
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France pick captain Dupont at out-half against South Africa
FRANCE COACH FABIEN Galthie has announced that captain Antoine Dupont will play at out-half against South Africa in their Nations Championship match.
Les Bleus are missing their four first-choice number 10s in Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy and Thomas Ramos, who usually plays at full-back but is also a top-class out-half.
Dupont and Maxime Lucu had been widely expected to line up in the half-back positions, but with the captain retaining his scrum-half spot.
Lucu had come on at out-half outside Dupont against Fiji last week to replace Ntamack, who suffered a shoulder injury just past the half-hour mark.
But against the Boks, their roles will be reversed.
Galthie has opted to beef up his pack against the fearsome Springbok forwards on Friday night at the Stade de France, with Julien Marchand picked in place of Maxime Lamothe at hooker.
Former captain Gregory Alldritt makes his return to the team for the first time in a year at No.8 with fellow back-rower Paul Boudehent injured.
France (v South Africa)
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