‘Ideal’ for Galthie to keep same French side
FRANCE coach Fabien Galthie said yesterday it was “ideal” to be able to name an unchanged side to face England in a potential Six Nations decider this weekend.
Galthie kept faith with his squad from last week’s 45-24 win over Wales for the home match in Lyon against Steve Borthwick’s England tomorrow.
He had made eight changes before the win over Wales after a drab draw with Italy previously, but has no injury or suspension worries before this weekend’s match.
“It’s ideal to be able to keep the same team. The team won, put in a great performance last weekend,” Galthie told reporters.
Gregory Alldritt captains the side, with Leo Barre, Nicolas Depoortere, Emmanuel Meafou and Georges-Henri Colombe keeping their places after making their debuts in Cardiff.
It is the first time Galthie has kept to a same starting line-up from one match to another since last February.
Nolann le Garrec remains at scrumhalf after his man-of-the-match performance on his first start, with
Maxime Lucu on the bench despite scoring a try in the Principality Stadium win.
England can win the Six Nations with a bonus-point victory in Lyon if tabletopping Ireland lose to Scotland earlier in the day without a bonus point.
France also have a chance of lifting the title, if they beat England with a bonus point, Ireland suffer defeat without a bonus point and there is a significant points difference swing in Les Bleus’ advantage.
Meanwhile, England recalled Elliot Daly in the lone change to the side that denied Ireland successive Grand Slams.
Daly is an enforced alteration to the team that started last weekend’s dramatic 23-22 win at Twickenham, with the experienced wing replacing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, after the medical student ruled himself out with self-diagnosed concussion symptoms.
The experienced Daly returns on the left wing, with Tommy Freeman switching to the right wing.
Veteran playmaker George Ford again starts at flyhalf, with England coach Steve Borthwick resisting the temptation to give Marcus Smith the No 10 shirt after the Harlequins stand-off came off the bench to land the last-ditch drop-goal that eventually defeated Ireland. | AFP
France: 15 Leo Barre 14 Damian Penaud 13 Gael Fickou 12 Nicolas Depoortere 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey 10 Thomas Ramos 9 Nolann le Garrec 8 Gregory Alldritt (captain) 7 Charles Ollivon 6 Francois Cros 5 Emmanuel Meafou 4 Thibaud Flament 3 Uini Atonio 2 Julien Marchand 1 Cyril Baille.
Bench: 16 Peato Mauvaka 17 Sebastien Taofifenua 18 Georges-Henri Colombe 19 Romain Taofifenua 20 Alexandre Roumat 21 Paul Boudehent 22 Maxime Lucu 23 Yoram Moefana.
England: 15 George Furbank 14 Tommy Freeman 13 Henry Slade 12 Ollie Lawrence 11 Elliot Daly 10 George Ford 9 Alex Mitchell 8 Ben Earl 7 Sam Underhill 6 Ollie Chessum 5 George Martin 4 Maro Itoje 3 Dan Cole 2 Jamie George (captain) 1 Ellis Genge.
Bench: 16 Theo Dan 17 Joe Marler 18 Will Stuart 19 Ethan Roots 20 Alex Dombrandt 21 Danny Care 22 Marcus Smith 23 Manu Tuilagi.