Europe 1 with AFP 7:56 p.m., February 23, 2023

Pillar Mohamed Haouas seems set to start the meeting of the Blues in a starting XV which should be otherwise unchanged to face Scotland on Sunday, during the 3rd day of the Six Nations Tournament.

Jonathan Danty was not retained in the group.

The XV of France challenges the XV of Thistle on Sunday from 4 p.m. at the Stade de France.

For this third match of the 2023 VI Nations Tournament, Fabien Galthié should not make many changes.

Only Mohamed Haouas could join the starting XV.

The Montpellier player (28, 14 caps) should come to replace Rochelais Uini Atonio, suspended after the yellow card received during the defeat in Ireland (32-19), where the XV of France suffered its first defeat in more than 'a year.

It would be Haouas' first tenure in the Tournament since March 26, 2021 and a defeat against... Scotland (27-23) at the Stade de France.

For the rest, according to the lessons of the various training sessions of the Blues in Marcoussis, the fourteen others of the fifteen losers from Dublin should be renewed. 

Seven Toulouse should therefore find their place, including the hinge formed by Antoine Dupont behind the scrum and Romain Ntamack at the post of opening half.

The rear triangle would again consist of Thomas Ramos with number 15 and Ethan Dumortier and Damian Penaud on the wings while Thibaud Flament would be associated with Paul Willemse on the second line.

>> READ ALSO

- Six Nations Tournament: date, time, broadcast, everything you need to know before France-Scotland

Danty "not 100%"

The center of La Rochelle Jonathan Danty, absent due to an injury in the first two matches of the Tournament, is "not 100%" after his rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee at the end of December.

"He is still in the rehabilitation phase. He is not 100% so, for the international level, it is complicated. We are all aware of it. The player too. We wanted to bring him in to see where he is at. was", explained the performance director of the Blues Thibaud Giroud to several journalists present in Marcoussis, including AFP.

The Rochelais, back from injury faster than expected, is "hoped for" for the end of the 2023 Tournament. It is therefore the duo Gaël Fickou and Yoram Moefana, however not really convincing in the first two matches, who should be associated with the center against Scotland.

>> READ ALSO

- Six Nations Tournament: attacking play, composition... what should the Blues change before Scotland?

Line-up announced on Friday

The composition of the team that will face the XV of Thistle on Sunday will be announced on Friday by Fabien Galthié and Rapahël Ibanez.

The Blues, sluggish winners of Italy (29-24) before falling in Ireland (32-19), receive Scotland on Sunday during the 3rd day of the Six Nations Tournament.

Finn Russell's teammates beat England (29-23) and Wales (35-7).