The XV of France certainly "fell" in Ireland (32-19) on the second day of the Six Nations Tournament, two weeks ago, but against Scotland on Sunday, the Blues "must get up", urged Friday Fabien Galthié before the third day. For this meeting, the coach has also renewed the team beaten in Dublin, with the exception of the pillar Uini Atonio, suspended and replaced by Mohamed Haouas.

  • Why only one change in the 23?

"For four years now, and 33 team compositions, we have tried to have a coherence, a reading, a vision. Our team has won 80% of its games. The players who compose it have proven against different opponents that they are capable of taking on any challenge. The defeat (in Ireland) could be synonymous with punishment, or even change (but) we judged after reflection that there was no reason to change this composition except Uini Atonio, suspended. We have integrated Momo Haouas, who has already played with us on different occasions, which allows us to maintain a consistent collective experience. »


🇫🇷🆚🏴 FRANCE/SCOTLAND, it's Sunday at 16pm at @StadeFrance!

🔥💪 #FRAECO We count on you to support your #XVdeFrance! #NeFaisonsXV pic.twitter.com/mEJlmRygV8

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 24, 2023

Access to this content has been blocked in order to respect your choice of consent

By clicking on "I ACCEPT", you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners

I AGREE

And to better pay 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our button "I accept for today" in the banner below.

More information on the Cookie Policy page.


  • Is the group for the World Cup already found?

"There are absent players, such as Jean-Baptiste Gros, Gabin Villière, Cameron Woki... And there are players who can still come back depending on their recovery and performance: the dressing room is open. Ethan Dumortier, for example, arrived three games ago: one player out of fifteen is a lot. The "premium" France team only plays eight games (per year), while the others (nations) play eleven or twelve because we have chosen to protect the physical integrity of our players. So we have eight games to play the best together and three more to work on development. So in this context, there are still opportunities to seize for some players. Sometimes we see them coming, sometimes it is the circumstances that can cause a series of injuries in the same position and at the same time. And I won't be surprised if at the World Cup that happens. »

  • Dupont continues to reflect the image of the "best"

"Antoine Dupont, this year, played two games in November and two games in the tournament, that makes him four with us. And if all goes well, he will do seven until the World Cup: is it a lot? He is our captain, considered one of the best players in the world. However, for us, putting the best players on the field is the principle of selection. Last year, when we brought him out and Maxime Lucu brought in as a finisher, it was a consistent selection principle, because the player who entered was going to bring an extra, according to a principle of rotation and coaching. Today, out of the two games played so far, it was deemed not necessary. »

  • The Scots "offer us their best team"

"The Scots started with a win with the offensive bonus at Twickenham, they followed up against Wales with an improved victory. When we look at the team composition, we realize that the Scots offer us their best team. They are tied for first with Ireland and are able, like the Irish but like us and the English, to win the Tournament. »

  • Falling in Dublin must allow you to get back on your feet

"In Dublin, both teams played world-class rugby. And at this level, we touch our limits but so do they (...) It was interesting to live this defeat, to analyze it and to try to understand what are the keys to be even better. We have to raise our level - physicality, technique and strategy - and all that, do it simultaneously to win this type of game. It was interesting to see how the men among themselves experience defeat: we have fallen, we must get up. »

  • Sport