France head coach Fabian Galthie has named his first team of the 2024 season for Les Bleus opening round Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Marseille.
Led by La Rochelle number eight Gregory Alldritt, the French side includes several experienced operators who played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
In the front row Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka is joined by club mate Cyril Baille and La Rochelle’s Uini Antonio.
Packing down in the secondrow, Montpellier veteran Paul Willemse returns having missed the World Cup through injury and is joined by Paul Gabrillagues of Stade Francais.
Across the backrow, Alldritt is joined by former captain Charles Ollivon and Francois Cros.
The backline is where things get interesting with the Bordeaux combination of Maxime Lucu and Mathieu Jalibert starting together in the absence of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
World Cup partners Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou continue in the centres whilst Thomas Ramos is joined by Damian Penaud and Yoram Moefana in the back three.
On the bench Galthie has opted for a 6 – 2 split with Julian Marchand, Redi Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki and Paul Boudehent the forwards whilst Nolann LeGarrec and Louis Bielle-Biarrey cover the backline.
🇫🇷 The @FranceRugby side to take on Ireland in Friday’s opening match of the Championship 🏆#GuinnessM6N #FRAIRE pic.twitter.com/0fIs63W1D5
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 31, 2024
France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Cameron Woki, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey
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