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Autumn Nations Series

France recall superstar for Fiji as they look to rebound from Bok loss

Gregory Alldritt of France (C) sings the National Anthem with his teammates during the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on November 16, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Gregory Alldritt will captain France against Fiji on Saturday, marking his return to the matchday 23 after missing out on the defeat to South Africa last week.

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The No.8 was a surprise omission from the 32-17 loss to the Springboks to start their Quilter Nations Series campaign, but now returns following an injury to Mickaël Guillard.

The La Rochelle star is one of six changes made by Fabien Galthie – some due to injury, some tactical.

The captaincy has been handed to the No.8 following the decision to drop centre Gael Fickou, with Nicolas Depoortère starting in the midfield instead.

There will be no dearth in leadership in the team, however, with former captain Charles Ollivon starting in the second-row alongside Emmanuel Meafou in place of Thibaud Flament.

Fixture
Internationals
France
34 - 21
Full-time
Fiji
All Stats and Data

After loosehead prop Baptiste Erdocio and scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec sustained injuries this week, Jean-Baptiste Gros and Maxime Lucu will start in their place.

On the bench, Bordeaux-Begles hooker Maxime Lamothe is poised to win his first cap for Les Bleus.

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France XV
1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Julien Marchand
3. Régis Montagne
4. Charles Ollivon
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Anthony Jelonch
7. Oscar Jegou
8. Grégory Alldritt (c)
9. Maxime Lucu
10. Romain Ntamack
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
12. Pierre-Louis Barassi
13. Nicolas Depoortere
14. Damian Penaud
15. Thomas Ramos

Replacements
16. Maxime Lamothe
17. Rodrigue Neti
18. Thomas Laclayat
19. Romain Taofifenua
20. Hugo Auradou
21. Paul Boudehent
22. Baptiste Jauneau
23. Emilien Gailleton

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Former France centre Denis Charvet has held nothing back when comparing Fabien Galthie to his South African counterpart Rassie Erasmus, saying “Erasmus plays chess, Galthié played checkers."

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Comments

11 Comments
j
je 123 days ago

Absolute clown parade from Galthie, Olivon has played what 4/5 games since coming back from injury and he’s in the row? What sense does that make? Is anyone in FFR holding him to account when he makes these awful selections?

S
SB 123 days ago

Please, he’s a fantastic player. Experienced and doing well for Toulon since coming back from injury. Perhaps Auradou could start but this is an important game for France to win so he’s gone for experience. It’s not an awful selection at all.

S
SB 124 days ago

Strong team, very happy to see Ollivon back. Interested to see how they respond after last week.

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Comments on RugbyPass

T
Tom 54 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick’s men must commit themselves to a wholly different way of playing.'

We've been here before though. It COULD be the making of England but several times we've had false dawns under Borthwick where the players have wrestled free of his restrictive systems and played excellent rugby only to be brought back into line by the time the next series starts. At this stage I don't have any faith left.

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Tom 57 minutes ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

We aren't miles ahead of any other nation in terms of talent at all. I agree Borthwick is a mediocre coach but let's not get carried away. France have won the u20 world cup three out of the last five times and just beat us in both the u20 and u18 six nations… and I don't think many people would claim we've got more talent than SA or the ABs either. Ibitoye isn't someone you want in a test match, he's so unpredictable. In a tight test match there are very few scoring opportunities for wingers but there are lots of opportunities for wingers to make defensive misreads and balls things up. In a tightly contested, low scoring game, you'd much rather have someone like Feyi Wabosi who has X factor but can be relied upon to defend properly or not have a brain farts, we've got other good wingers without needing Ibitoye.

I agree in general with your sentiment but we should be realistic. We've won the u20 WC once in the last decade, won the six nations only twice. A prem club hasn't won anything in Europe since Bristol won the challenge cup when they had Piutau, Radradra. There is talent out there for sure but our clubs and u20s aren't enjoying the level of success which could support statements about us having the most talent in the world. If a new coach comes in they aren't going to wave a magic wand and make us the best team in the world. There are a lot of structural problems and engrained attitudes which need to be overcome within the RFU and Prem etc. Plus any new coach is going to have to undo the damage Borthwick and Wigglesworth have done. They're going to have their work cut out for them.



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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick’s men must commit themselves to a wholly different way of playing.'

England and all countries actually learned from the collective over the tournament. I thought England, Ireland and Scotland had caught up with France by the end.

This tournament could potentially be the making of England. Eliminate the errors against France and we might actually discovere that SA have peaked a little early.



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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
'I just don’t get it': The Irish pundits' reaction to latest Scotland flop

I reckoned this might effect Scotland and was impressed with how they turned up but agreed there was an element of what you say. I also believe that although Scotland lost this wasn’t the same old story. If Ireland at any time tried to settle, run the clock down they would have lost. Scotland needed scoreboard pressure, even a few more minutes within a try achieves scoreboard pressure. They never got that.

They have caught up clearly. I am looking forward to Scotland down south in July. Argentina, South Africa and Fiji. 2/3 minimum there could see Scotland securing a first win v NZ in November as the key to making the Nations Champs final.



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S
Siya Kolisi 1 hour ago
Ireland report card: Rating all 34 players used in the Six Nations

4.5 is crazy

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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
'Absolute madness': Ireland fans are particularly furious at Henry Pollock

Thank you Monsieur Canard! The fact is that the ruck has been tightened on and Ireland have adapted. It’s not their fault if they are good at it!!

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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Ireland report card: Rating all 34 players used in the Six Nations

Bernard Jackman told the story of why Darragh Murray was kept in the extended squad. Apparently the youngster is a real lineout guru. But his superpower is calling lineouts and also predicting opponents lineouts. He is a defensive lineout animal, immense at stealing. And get this: so good was he that they kept him on, his job was to manage, construct and call opposition training lineouts before each match. So he would set up a lineout as Italy would etc. This youngster is already a coaching liutenant to O’Connell. This is pretty big for the Irish lineout even if he doesnt always play. His try against Scotland was beautiful too. There was space to the right of the goal line defender as Murray saw it. But he didn’t run for the space. He ran directly at the defender as if the space was covered. When the defender did not show signs of awareness of the space Murray darted right and over at last second. Defender completely missed him.

The exciting thing about Ireland: we have been talking about a Golden generation about to end for two decades. But its more nurture than nature. If we keep looking after the system then the golden goose will keep laying.



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R
Rob 1 hour ago
Ireland report card: Rating all 34 players used in the Six Nations

You forgot Tom Stewart

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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Ireland report card: Rating all 34 players used in the Six Nations

Cian was a 7. Great lineout option and a lot of hard work around the park.

5 Go to comments
u
unknown 1 hour ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

Wigglesworth can do very little on the evidence of the output and better more qualified coaches are operating in the Prem. He and El-Abd only got their roles because they’re Borthwick’s mates not because they were the best person for the job

34 Go to comments
u
unknown 1 hour ago
Change at the top is only answer for England – Andy Goode

It’s only really a disaster if you feel the incumbent has the ability to win the World Cup and I don’t think anyone truly believes Borthwick can deliver that when he can’t even get close in the 6N. We may need to accept the World Cup is a stretch and focus on getting back to being competitive in the 6N as a first target. I get many coaches are tied down for four year cycles at international level but a lot of top coaches are operating in the club game and would likely relish the chance of an opportunity at international level

34 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
'Fear': The major Fabien Galthie caveat as France reclaim Six Nations

Absolutely. I know nothing about scrums so I won’t pretend that I do. But if the staff had an answer then they would’ve figured it out already. Aldegheri is just a scapegoat because they see him giving away the penalty but the rest of the pack is also important.

6 Go to comments
j
je 2 hours ago
'Fear': The major Fabien Galthie caveat as France reclaim Six Nations

I think there is a lot of that for sure, just look at how Andrew Porter gets treated post that NZ RWC quarter final, that said he’s gets really exposed when JBG & Marchand who are physically stronger players than Mauvaka & the replacment loose head come on

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S
SB 2 hours ago
Ireland report card: Rating all 34 players used in the Six Nations

The Prendergast brothers with the lowest ratings.

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t
tf 2 hours ago
England star makes wild claim about Rugby World Cup chances 'under Steve'

Yep the defense was the primary issue for me. And it has been in decline since the Argentina tour.

I think a lot of coaches would be more honest. Take Farrell after the French game. But you can't ask a player if they think a coach should go in public and expect them to pour their heart out.



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AEC42 2 hours ago
Champions malgré les failles : les paradoxes de la victoire française

A festival of tries, but I don’t completely agree about the attack - very reliant on the amazing LBB. Also, Dupont playing as “a traditional scrum half” as so many pundits noted, to supply Jalibert with the ball he needs to play his natural game, restricted Dupont’s own unique genius, and that was a great loss.

The reorganisation of the defence to shield Jalibert hasn’t been a success so far!



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Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
Andy Farrell addresses contract talk with IRFU over Ireland future

He sure will be when the irfu cough up the King’s ransom it will take to keep him!

He knows what he’s doing…



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E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
'Absolute madness': Ireland fans are particularly furious at Henry Pollock

Haha remember remember the Boks in November! 👻😂

214 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 2 hours ago
'Absolute madness': Ireland fans are particularly furious at Henry Pollock

The detail of your analysis here eric is staggering! One rule on some laws, blind eye for others…

214 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Dave Rennie's simple outlook on where the All Blacks can improve



This disability didn’t seem to have the same impact when he was in charge of the Crusaders.

Lol you haven’t heard the story about him bringing in picture cards to explain things to All Black greats?



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