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'Unpleasant emotions': The 12-strong reserves list named by France

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

France boss Fabien Galthie didn’t just name his official squad of 33 on Monday for the upcoming Rugby World Cup – he also named a 12-strong reserves list that will remain in camp until Wednesday, with some of those potentially remaining involved through to Sunday if required for the final Summer Nations Series match versus Australia in Paris.  

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Having shared a two-game series with Scotland and then got the better of Fiji in an August programme that came with the devastating development that was Romain Ntamack’s cruel ACL injury versus the Scots in Saint-Etienne, Galthie has now unveiled his squad for the finals which begin on September 8 versus New Zealand at Stade de France.  

He also confirmed his plan B, a list of standby players he will look to call on if someone drops out injured over the course of the tournament.

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In the meantime, he asked this dozen-strong list to set aside their “unpleasant emotions” and help the official squad to be fully ready for the Wallabies and ensure France head into the World Cup on the back of another victory.  

Included in the reserves list is Ethan Dumortier, the Lyon winger who started all five matches for the French in this year’s Guinness Six Nations. His omission from the official 33 highlighted how competitive RWC selection was in certain areas of the team.  

The other 11 players on standby are: Props Sebastien Taofifenua (Lyon), Thomas Laclayat (Racing 92) and Demba Bamba (Lyon), hooker Gaetan Barlot (he didn’t take part in the summer preparation due to a hernia operation but is now a reservist), Montpellier locks Bastien Chalureau and Florian Verhaegue, back-rowers Dylan Cretin (Lyon) and Yoan Tanga (La Rochelle), scrum-half Baptiste Serin (Toulon), centre Emilien Gailleton (Pau) and full-back Brice Dulin (La Rochelle). 

At his media briefing where he confirmed the identity of the 33 tasked with attempting to win the World Cup for France on home soil, Galthie explained the rationale behind naming a secondary team of 12. “What we ask of these 12, we are aware that it is not easy,” he admitted.  

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“That is a proposal that has been made to them. On Sunday, we asked them each if, despite the unpleasant emotions felt by not being on the list, they are able to continue their journey with us until Wednesday, and maybe Sunday according to the composition against Australia.  

“It’s not an easy challenge but we rely on them, and we consider that they are ready to enter the bus at any time. They have been prepared to meet this challenge at all times.” 

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T
TT 3 hours ago
France snubbing New Zealand tour shows the difference in priorities

Reading this article is like reading someone having a mental breakdown.


European rugby is in endless bankruptcies,  its national sides in endless RWC failings & some of its clubs are only season to season financial propositions BUT, according to the author’s conspiracies, its New Zealand Super Pacific Rugby that, quote, ‘simply isn’t a competition people should take seriously’ (??!!).


That idea while New Zealand Super Pacific Rugby participant clubs continue to profit after 130+ years (& similar traditional Oz club longevity).


Yet it's NZ/Oz rugby that has the viability problem!???


Reality is difficult for you author. See a doctor. Urgently!


But the author's mad rant continues, with the insistence that the way to fix his conspiracy of a sick  Super Pacific Rugby is for it to let all its top players run away OS (surprise, surprise, to Europe to fix its club rugby) by removing OS restrictions  of its best players.


Hurry call an ambulance for the author.


It's simple, a mass exodus of high skill therefore high entertainment players (will that even happen?? ie again given the increasing European restrictions & financial stress in European clubs) will kill the core business of INTEREST in NZ comps & therefore lose the life blood $ of those same TV rights, sponsorships, gate entry, memberships, merchandise, etc. Mass loss in  audience INTEREST & its resulting $$ loss.


RE the French B team for NZ 2025 tests,


If you wanna see where test rugby could end up as (ie 2nd rate) if it continues to allow the  French mismanagement, look at what ‘Indian club cricket money’ control  is doing to test cricket, ie because of A international test team players contracts with  Indian clubs & their $, those players not available for international tests eg South Africa send a ‘B’ test cricket team to NZ last year, likewise West  Indies send a ‘B’ test cricket team to OZ last year.


Relevance to test  rugby & ABs? 

France's reason for not sending their A team for the AB tests in 2025? Quote, 'resting them (!) for the Top 14 club rugby commitments'.


World Rugby is failing to manage & protect the game again.


France CHOSE to make its extra long Top 14  season & not respect the World rugby international window.


France should be removed from test rugby til they do respect it.


Or test rugby will be like failing test cricket very soon by letting national club $ rule over the international game.


If World Rugby allows the degrading of international game it will degrade audience (therefore ratings ), will degrade the $, hence will degrade the $ to players & rugby generally.


World Rugby, Prioritise the international window OVER national club window.


Especially over (despite all it endless irrational hype) failing European club rugby.

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