France lean on Top 14 finalists with Jalibert at fullback

Five Top 14 finalists, Matthieu Jalibert still uncertain yet named at full-back, a core group from Christchurch, two Australian-born players, and two potential first caps in the matchday 23. This is the France team selected to face Australia on Saturday, July 11, in Brisbane for the second round of the Nations Championship.

In total, Fabien Galthié has made seven changes compared with the starting XV that were narrowly beaten 34-32 by the All Blacks a week ago in Christchurch, the opening act of this new North versus South competition.

Fixture

Nations Championship

Australia

26 - 42

Full-time

France

All Stats and Data

Peato Mauvaka will start at hooker. The second row is entirely reshaped, with Montpellier’s Florian Verhaeghe returning three years after his third and final cap, alongside the powerful Toulouse lock Emmanuel “Many” Meafou. Young Montpellier forward Lenni Nouchi will line up on the flank, while Romain Ntamack will take the No. 10 jersey. Around a third of the starting side against the Wallabies are Toulouse’s four-time champions or Montpellier players who were absent in New Zealand.

Two players are set for their first appearance in Bleu. Stade Français loosehead Moses Alo-Emile, who was born in Brisbane to Samoan parents and who moved to Paris at the age of 18, and Pau winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who was an Olympic sevens champion in Paris in 2024, and has been called up to replace Damian Penaud, injured in New Zealand and forced to return home on Monday.

The major talking point remains Jalibert’s selection at full-back. The Bordeaux fly-half has never started in that position for France and has only played the position four times at club level, the last in March 2021. Hampered by a calf injury and absent from training this week, his presence on Saturday is far from certain.

“We are not sure, honestly,” Galthié admitted on Thursday, referring to the injury sustained “on the last play” against the All Blacks. “It is a calf contusion, something that can usually be managed within the week, so we protected him.”

“He will undergo a full test tomorrow during the captain’s run at the stadium. We will make a decision based on how he feels,” the head coach added. If Jalibert withdraws at short notice, La Rochelle’s Antoine Hastoy, who was trialled at full-back in training this week, is expected to take his place.

France team vs. Australia:

1. Moses Alo-Emile, 26, 0 caps, Stade Français
2. Peato Mauvaka, 29, 46 caps, Stade Toulousain
3. Demba Bamba, 28, 32 caps, Racing 92
4. Florian Verhaeghe, 29, 3 caps, Montpellier HR
5. Emmanuel Meafou, 27, 16 caps, Stade Toulousain
6. Lenni Nouchi, 22, 6 caps, Montpellier HR
7. Oscar Jegou, 23, 14 caps, Stade Rochelais
8. Marko Gazzotti, 21, 2 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles
9. Maxime Lucu, 33, 31 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles
10. Romain Ntamack, 27, 43 caps, Stade Toulousain
11. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 26, 0 caps, Section Paloise
12. Yoram Moefana, 25, 40 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles
13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 20, 3 caps, Section Paloise
14. Théo Attissogbe, 21, 14 caps, Section Paloise
15. Matthieu Jalibert, 27, 40 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles

Replacements: Maxime Lamothe, 27, 4 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles ; Jefferson Poirot, 33, 37 caps, Union Bordeaux Bègles ; Tevita Tatafu, 23, 3 caps, Aviron Bayonnais ; Hugo Auradou, 22, 13 caps, Section Paloise ; Thomas Staniforth, 31, 4 caps, Castres Olympique ; Killian Tixeront, 24, 4 caps, ASM Clermont ; Nolann Le Garrec, 24, 15 caps, Stade Rochelais ; Kalvin Gourgues, 21, 2 caps, Stade Toulousain