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France statement: Six released from Six Nations squad, Tuilagi called up

By Liam Heagney
Melvyn Jaminet celebrates after scoring at the Rugby World Cup (Photo by Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

The French rugby federation have confirmed the names of the six players released from Fabien Galthie’s Guinness Six Nations squad for this weekend’s round of Top 14 fixtures – and revealed the five up-and-coming youngsters who will fill in for them at national team training.

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Under the latest FFR agreement with the league, Les Bleus will be making some France squad players available to their clubs during the championship rather than keeping all of them off limits at the national team base in Marcoussis.

This deal has resulted in Toulon being able to select Esteban Abadie, Mathias Halagahu and Melvyn Jaminet for this Saturday’s game away to La Rochelle.

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Joe Simmonds on Sam Whitelock at PAU

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Joe Simmonds on Sam Whitelock at PAU

Castres’ Gaetan Barlot, Pau’s Emilien Gailleton and Toulouse’ Alexandre Roumat have also been released and their places in the France squad for the remainder of this week’s training have been taken by a quintet of youngsters, including Perpignan’s Tuilagi who last July starred in his country’s World Junior Championship U20s title win in South Africa.

A statement read: “As part of the agreement between the FFR and the LNR for the provision of players from professional clubs for the 2024 Six Nations tournament, six players from the XV de France have been made available to their club: ABADIE Esteban, BARLOT Gaëtan, GAILLETON Emilien, HALAGAHU Matthias, JAMINET Melvyn, ROUMAT Alexandre.

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“Five players called up for Thursday: ATTISSOGBE Theo, BARRÉ Léo, BAUDONNE Maxime, NOUCHI Lenni, TUILAGI Posolo.”

France open their Six Nations campaign with a home match versus defending champions Ireland on February 2 in Marseille.

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1 Comment
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Brian 233 days ago

France’s strength in depth is frightening.

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RW 2 hours ago
The All Blacks' backline is to blame for Robertson's unflattering record

Your feelings of rugby players personalities on and off the field aside, the ABs can't really blame the backline, sure they didn't perform but where were they last year, they got to a World Cup final. Same players different coach. Scott Robertson has the unenviable task of taking over a team that has traditionally been fantastic. They places a huge amount of pressure on a man, particularly one with the pedigree of 14 Super Rugby titles.


However club level and international country level are two completely different beasts. For one the opponents are good in club level but normally the best if the best are picked to represent their countries. Thus the level of opposition in club level vary tremendously. Also you only learn against the opposition you play, again Crusaders have really only got New Zealanders to play against who can give them any kind of opposition. Which means any non style ABs game play is not tested by 'Saders because they don't face anything else.


Now Scotty has taken over the coaching role from a guy who worked under possibly the best coach ABs have ever had, which means when Fozzie took over, he still had the inklings of top quality rugby although it appeared he didn't quite know how to work them properly. Now Scotty had no coaching ties with them, effectively starting from scratch. So he is still figuring out his team, and working them in. But unfortunately for now he is the one to blame for the less than average performances by his team that was shown us these past two tests and even the one against Argentina.


But it's not to say he is done and dusted but rather he needs to figure out his route, and like Rassie did and does, figure out his players, his game plan and how to get them back to where they were on 2011-2015.


My suggestion if he can, is to blood quite a few new okies, who can gain experience of playing against Springboks, France, Ireland, etc. and prepare them for the the next World Cup. Don't be shy about losing games but always look to preparing a new group for the RWC '27. If he has a newish style of playing, what better way to inform that than by starting with a fresh pair of legs and minds. Let a couple of the oldies to stay but build a new ABs team with a new style. Easier to train a puppy than an old dog. Just saying.


Give Razor time, and allow him the space. This is coming from a Saffa🇿🇦. Go Bokke, love you okes

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