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I'm fascinated to see if Six Nations 'running joke' repeats itself: Andy Goode
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France hand debut to 20-year-old Kalvin Gourgues against Wallabies
By Josh Raisey
Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues is poised to make his debut for France on Saturday against Australia in their final match of the Quilter Nations Series, just months after representing his country at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The 20-year-old has been selected on the bench by Fabien Galthie, who has made a few tweaks to his starting XV from the one that triumphed over Fiji 34-21 last week.
The preferred second-row pairing of Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou will return after missing the victory over Fiji, shifting last week’s duo of Romain Taofifénua and Charles Ollivon to the bench and the back-row, respectively.
VIDEO
Former captain Ollivon’s move to the back-row means Oscar Jegou will return to the bench.
The one change to the back line will see Gael Fickou, who captained the side against South Africa, return to the fold, replacing Pierre-Louis Barassi, who only managed 13 minutes last week. Barassi’s Toulouse team-mate Gourgues, who is capable of playing in the midfield and on the wing, will provide cover on the bench as one of two backs.
France XV
1. Gros Jean-Baptiste
2. Marchand Julien
3. Montagne Régis
4. Flament Thibaud
5. Meafou Emmanuel
6. Jelonch Anthony
7. Ollivon Charles
8. Alldritt Grégory ©
9. Lucu Maxime
10. Ntamack Romain
11. Bielle-Biarrey Louis
12. Fickou Gaël
13. Deporteerre Nicolas
14. Penaud Damian
15. Ramos Thomas
Replacements
16. Lamothe Maxime
17. Neti Rodrigue
18. Laclayat Thomas
19. Taofifenua Romain
20. Auradou Hugo
21. Jegou Oscar
22. Jauneau Baptiste
23. Gourgues Kalvin
