FRANCE COACH FABIEN Galthie has opted for a sturdier second row against England in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, bringing in Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.
The defending champions are bidding this weekend to win back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time since 2007. Just as he did against Italy and their powerful pack, Galthie has opted for the hulking Toulouse pair in the engine room.
The move was partly forced by flanker Oscar Jegou, who has been one of France’s best players in the tournament, copping a four-match suspension for eye-gouging Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, and No. 8 Anthony Jelonch hurting his hamstring in training during the week.
Charles Ollivon moves from lock to No. 8, with Temo Matiu — the son of New Zealand-born former France international Legi Matiu — taking Jegou’s place at openside to earn his first cap.
Temo Matiu, in action for UBB in the Top 14 recently. Jose Romano / Icon Sport
Jose Romano / Icon Sport / Icon Sport
Lock Mickael Guillard, who was man-of-the-match against Ireland in the tournament opener, drops to the bench.
In the backline, Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi comes in for Bordeaux-Begles’s Nicolas Depoortere, who dislocated his shoulder against Scotland last week.
Advertisement
Wales
Coach Steve Tandy urged his Wales players to “go up another level” after naming an unchanged team for their Six Nations finale against Italy as they seek to end a painful losing streak.
Wales coach Steve Tandy. Andrew Orchard / Andrew Orchard sports photography
Andrew Orchard / Andrew Orchard sports photography / Andrew Orchard sports photography
The Welsh go into Saturday’s last round bottom of the table and on a run of 15 successive defeats in the tournament since beating Italy in March 2023.
But they pushed Ireland hard in Dublin last week and were within one score of their hosts until the final minutes, before eventually losing 27-17.
“Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland,” Tandy said on Thursday.
“This week we need to go up another level. Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it’s putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend.”
In the only change to the Wales 23, Scarlets full-back Blair Murray is named on the bench in place of Bath wing Louie Hennessey.
Wales face an Italy side seeking to win three matches in a single Six Nations for the first time.
The Azzurri, due to name their team later on Thursday, will arrive in Cardiff following their first-ever victory against England.
Related Reads
'You have to enjoy it, you never know how many more days you have left in green'
'It's a different Scotland team from what we've seen the last few years'
Six Nations permutations: How Ireland could still sneak the title on Super Saturday
*****
France
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Theo Attissogbe
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
France coach Galthie beefs up his second row, Wales named unchanged squad
FRANCE COACH FABIEN Galthie has opted for a sturdier second row against England in their final Six Nations match on Saturday, bringing in Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.
The defending champions are bidding this weekend to win back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time since 2007. Just as he did against Italy and their powerful pack, Galthie has opted for the hulking Toulouse pair in the engine room.
The move was partly forced by flanker Oscar Jegou, who has been one of France’s best players in the tournament, copping a four-match suspension for eye-gouging Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman, and No. 8 Anthony Jelonch hurting his hamstring in training during the week.
Charles Ollivon moves from lock to No. 8, with Temo Matiu — the son of New Zealand-born former France international Legi Matiu — taking Jegou’s place at openside to earn his first cap.
Lock Mickael Guillard, who was man-of-the-match against Ireland in the tournament opener, drops to the bench.
In the backline, Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi comes in for Bordeaux-Begles’s Nicolas Depoortere, who dislocated his shoulder against Scotland last week.
Wales
Coach Steve Tandy urged his Wales players to “go up another level” after naming an unchanged team for their Six Nations finale against Italy as they seek to end a painful losing streak.
The Welsh go into Saturday’s last round bottom of the table and on a run of 15 successive defeats in the tournament since beating Italy in March 2023.
But they pushed Ireland hard in Dublin last week and were within one score of their hosts until the final minutes, before eventually losing 27-17.
“Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland,” Tandy said on Thursday.
“This week we need to go up another level. Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it’s putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend.”
In the only change to the Wales 23, Scarlets full-back Blair Murray is named on the bench in place of Bath wing Louie Hennessey.
Wales face an Italy side seeking to win three matches in a single Six Nations for the first time.
The Azzurri, due to name their team later on Thursday, will arrive in Cardiff following their first-ever victory against England.
*****
France
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Theo Attissogbe
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Matthieu Jalibert
9. Antoine Dupont (captain)
1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Julien Marchand
3. Dorian Aldegheri
4. Thibaud Flament
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Francois Cros
7. Temo Matiu
8. Charles Ollivon
Replacements:
Wales
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Rhys Carre
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Ben Carter
6. Alex Mann
7. James Botham
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Six Nations France Rugby Teamsheets Wales