No place for Bourgeois in France's opening match day Six Nations squad

France’s new head coach François Ratier has left reliable kicking fullback Morgane Bourgeois out of his squad for his first match in charge in the Women’s Six Nations, as he put the promise of a new-look gameplan on the line from game one.

Stade Bordelais’ Bourgeois — one of five travelling squad members for Saturday’s match against Italy at Grenoble’s Stade des Alpes — was the notable absentee from a 23 that included six uncapped players.

Stade Toulousain’s debutante 21-year-old Pauline Barrat got the nod at 15 in Ratier’s inaugural squad, with the coach telling journalists at the squad announcement that she was ‘a little ahead’ in terms of the ‘gameplan we’re implementing’.

Barrat was named alongside another first-timer Anais Grando, who normally plays at fullback for Romagnat, at 14. Barrat’s clubmate Léa Murie completes a back three built for high-pace counter-attack rugby.

Joanna Grisez, meanwhile, switches from her usual wing position to play alongside Gabrielle Vernier in midfield.

Captain Manae Feleu also makes a positional switch, moving from the second row to form one-third of a powerful and mobile backrow alongside Léa Champon at eight and Axelle Berthoumieu — a player looking for redemption after serving a ban for biting in the World Cup.

“I really enjoy working with interchangeable second and back row players who have that decathlete profile,” Ratier told journalists. “It’s important for our mobility.”

Feleu’s move allows Toulouse’s Kiara Zago to start at four, alongside ever-present Madassou Fall Raclot.

Romagnat’s Mathilde Lazarko, leading try-scorer in the AXA Elite 1 this season, makes her first international appearance in the middle of the front row, with 10-cap Elisa Riffonneau named on a 6-2 bench.

Lazarko won’t lack for support in the scrums. She’ll be supported by experienced props Ambre Mwayembe and Assia Khalfaoui.

Alongside Riffonneau among the replacement are uncapped second rows Cloé Correa and 19-year-old Siobhan Soqeta, and Stade Bordelais’ centre Aubane Rousset; with Charlotte Escudero and Alexandra Chambon adding their power and experience later in the game.

France squad v Italy:

1 Ambre Mwayembe
2 Mathilde Lazarko
3 Assia Khalfaoui
4 Kiara Zago
5 Madassou Fall Raclot
6 Axelle Berthoumieu
7 Manae Feleu (captain)
8 Léa Champon

9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus
10 Carla Arbez
11 Léa Murie
12 Gabrielle Vernier
13 Joanna Grisez
14 Anais Grando
15 Pauline Barrat

Replacements
16 Elisa Riffonneau
17 Yllana Brosseau
18 Rose Bernadou
19 Cloé Correa
20 Siobhan Soqeta
21 Charlotte Escudero
22 Alexandra Chambon
23 Aubane Rousset

Additional players: Annaëlle Deshaye, Morgane Bourgeois, Khoudedia Cissokho, Lina Queyroi, Emilie Boulard