Six Nations 2024: France make eight changes to face Wales
- Published
Thomas Ramos plays club rugby for Toulouse
Guinness Six Nations: Wales v France |
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Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Sunday, 10 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and online from 14:20 GMT; listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. |
France have made eight changes to the side that drew with Italy for Sunday's Six Nations match against Wales.
Thomas Ramos switches from full-back to fly-half to cover for the injured Matthieu Jalibert, while number eight Gregory Alldritt returns as captain.
Full-back Leo Barre, centre Nicolas Depoortere and lock Emmanuel Meafou will make their debuts in Cardiff.
Wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, lock Thibaud Flament and hooker Julien Marchand also start.
Galthie has changed more than half the team following the 13-13 draw with Italy in Lille.
The new second-row partnership of Toulouse team-mates Meafou and Flament replaces Cameron Woki and Posolo Tuilagi, who is ruled out through illness.
New Zealand-born Meafou qualified for France on residency grounds in December after moving to Toulouse in 2018 from Australia.
Meafou has also been involved with Galthie's outfit over the last 12 months and was named in the original Six Nations squad but suffered a knee injury.
"He's a player we've been expecting for more than a year," said Galthie.
"It's the moment to thank the Australian federation for training him up and Toulouse, who managed to recruit him to give him a new chance to play rugby because in Australia he had it hard.
"Toulouse have made him the player he is today."
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Depoortere fills in for the suspended Jonathan Danty, who was sent off against Italy.
Former France Under-20s captain Depoortere has been in superb form for Bordeaux-Begles this season, scoring seven tries in 18 appearances.
Depoortere has been training with Galthie's side since last season's Six Nations, when he was still a member of the youth set-up.
"He would come and challenge us, work with us during all the team training sessions," said Galthie.
"We know him, he knows us. It's a first cap that's been prepared for more than a year."
Bielle-Biarrey and Alldritt both return from injury after missing the game with Italy, and Le Garrec is preferred with Maxime Lucu dropping to the bench. Marchand is chosen ahead of Peato Mauvaka, who is among the replacements.
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France opened the tournament with a heavy home defeat against Ireland before a narrow win in Scotland.
Wales are yet to win a game in this tournament after three defeats and have lost 10 out of their last 11 matches in the Six Nations.
France team to face Wales: Barre; Penaud, Fickou, Depoortere, Bielle-Biarrey; Ramos, Le Garrc; Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Ollivon, Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Mauvaka, S Taofifenua, Colombe, R Taofifenua, Roumat, Boudehent, Lucu, Moefana.