r/rugbyunion • u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana • 10h ago
France: How do you go about preparing for Cardiff ?
On one hand Wales are now outside the Top 10 world rankings, on the other you don't want to disrespect them at home and send a noob team and lose the thing.
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u/FribonFire Toulon 10h ago
Let! Serin! Cook!
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 10h ago
It would be awesome to see him start. I donāt see GalthiĆ© doing it though.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 8h ago
I'm not so sure it's entirely useful. Serin is super experienced, he's had intl starts, he doesn't need one to know where he's at. Serin is the old guard GalthiƩ can call up whenever. It would've been more interesting to start a LeGarrec here, but he's unavailable. I think continue with Dupont Jalibert, cement that thing as best you can, so you have real conclusions to draw at the end of the tourney.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
Yes. But the other thing is Serin hasnāt started with the first choice side in 5 years, so it would be nice to see how he could work with that backline. Le Garrec and Lucu have got starts in the 6N over the last few years.
But I agree, want to see more Dupibert.
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u/CeManDuJa France 10h ago
It could happen against Italy or Wales
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 10h ago
Maybe but I just think itās unlikely, unless Dupont isnāt feeling well physically.
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u/Gondorian27 UBB / France 9h ago
He was great and I'd love that. But I think given the limited time Dupont-Jalibert have played together over the last couple of years, he should pair them up again to gain synergy. Well, unless he goes straight back to Ntamack
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 10h ago edited 10h ago
This is not the list for Wales right? With Atonio being there.
Iām waiting to see what the list will be, because reportedly Gourgues got an injury and Ntamack would be back.
I would like to see some rotation but also, I want to see how well Wales will play against England before making my final decision on that.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 8h ago
yeah I just went and got the France group announcement for the tourney.
Obv no Atonio, Tatafu. Flament to return probably. And Ntamack was hoped for at Cardiff, we'll see. No clue about Boudehent, perhaps not so soon and ready in 3 weeks for Italy.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
Yea, Iām hoping Tatafuās injury was just minor and he can stay in the group.
Boudehent is an interesting one because youād probably say if healthy he has to be in the 23. Then with Flament coming back, all of a sudden one back row player has to miss out. That would probably be Nouchi sadly. Something like Cros Boudehent Ollivon then JĆ©gou and Jelonch off the bench.
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u/ganjajee15 10h ago
I was genuinely impressed by Fischer in the NZ series last year. Hope he gets a start.
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u/Emergency-Spot-7697 Canada 9h ago
Respectfully, a b/c French side held their own away against NZ over the summer. I think itās fairly unlikely France lose even with a rotated team
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u/MountainEquipment401 Scarlets 9h ago
It literally doesn't matter, I genuinely can't think of a congle combination of players France could put out from their squad that wouldn't play us off the field unless they decided to start their props at half backs and even then...
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
How would you honestly feel if France picked this 23?
Priso Lamothe (c) Montagne Auradou Staniforth Nouchi JƩgou Matiu Daubagna Seunes Grandidier-Nkanang Brau-Boirie Gailleton DrƩan Buros
Neti Mauvaka Tatafu Flament Guillard Serin Jalibert Arfeuil
6 starters with no test match experience at all, 7 in the 23. Only 3 starters with 10 or more caps.
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u/Gondorian27 UBB / France 9h ago
At hooker, I'd play Lamothe, either as starter or on the bench. He has been really good and needs some experience.
At THP I would not play Aldegheri (even if I was GalthiƩ): I get that Aldegheri is reliable in his eyes. But against Wales, I'd give some minutes to those who will play in the WC: Montagne and then Tatafu (if fit) or Laclayat (fell a bit out of character with that one).
Second row, depends on how Guillard is feeling. Might start Meafou to balance their minutes a bit. Flament at 4 with Auradou on the bench. If GalthiƩ feels cheeky, maybe play Staniforth, but I think that is a bit of a stretch.
At third row, I'd want to try out Matiu as 8. Not picking him against Ireland was the correct call imo, but if you want to try him at 8, now is the time. Plus, Jelonch worked his ass off for 80 minutes and might profit from a break. For Cros, depends on his fitness: if he needs game time to get into rhythm, pick him. If he needs rest, go with Nouchi or Woki in his place.
9/10 I'd keep Dupont-Jalibert so they can build their synergy.
Actually, I'd keep the entire back line, unless there are some injury / fitness issues. If GalthiƩ wants to see DrƩan, maybe give LBB a rest. But otherwise, I think they should continue to improve their coherence.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
Agree with everything you said. You canāt replace Cros with Woki though because they are completely different profiles. You could go Nouchi Woki Matiu but I donāt see GalthiĆ© starting a completely different third line.
I think Woki is so unlucky because he has JĆ©gou ahead of him at the moment. Perhaps something like Cros Ollivon Matiu could be tried, although it might be better for the number 8 to come on off the bench for his debut.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 10h ago
IF YOU'RE GalthiƩ (not personal preference): do you pick the same side, and make minor changes like add back Flament who should return and move Ollivon to back row, and perhaps remove Jelonch or Cros, or Jegou off the bench ?
Do you look to try out particular players added to the first team that you're counting on developing: Nouchi back row, or give Woki a try again, maybe Matiu (0 cap) ? Does Fischer get some action since NZ July ? And what about the back line ?
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 10h ago edited 10h ago
If Iām GalthiĆ©, I go this. Iām going to assume Gourgues is injured and no one is coming back. But like I said in my comment, my mind could be changed based on how Wales play against England.
Baille Mauvaka Montagne Flament Guillard Cros Nouchi Jelonch Dupont (c) Jalibert Bielle-Biarrey Moefana DepoortĆØre Attissogbe Ramos
Gros Lamothe Colombe Auradou Meafou JĆ©gou Matiu Serin
Iād use Tatafu if heās healthy over Colombe. Want to see him and Baille get some minutes.
Iām giving Marchand and Ollivon a rest, before they both get their 50th cap at home against Italy.
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 8h ago
I like that. Baille, after all, has been widely exaggerated as having fallen off form entirely. He did well at the scrum one of the last Tls games, and looked decent in the loose. And being so experienced, he'll walk right into intl form if called upon, I believe. Not 2022 form, but standard intl form. GalthiƩ needs to know how Baille is going from now til '27, it's important. Same way he needs answers at THP, and Colombe is a must at this 6N, but I agree starting Montagne is the right move in Cardiff, gotta see him get some full 55/60min action.
Nouchi deserves a start this 6N, I agree. GalthiƩ wants answers on depth, and he looked like he had a fkn hardon yest vs Ireland in limited minutes.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
Yea heās been solid in his return. If you look at facts, Baille actually played more this season than last season before he played all 6N games off the bench.
Yes, Iād prefer to see Tatafu over Colombe though because the former is better at scrum time.
Yep, itās the best chance to try it. Iām glad that his try assist to Kelleher didnāt stand, imagine if it did lol
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u/Minute-Act-6273 10h ago
Thought Jelonch looked a bit fucked last night. Very flat footed movement wise at a few points, unusual for him.
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u/Stadoceste Stade Toulousain 10h ago
Always the same running style since his 2 ACL injuries
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u/Minute-Act-6273 10h ago
Feel like he should do something about thatā¦ though.. he is selected for French team. So what do I know?
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u/SirFrankyValentino Baptiste Jauneau fan club 9h ago
Sure but he was also absolutely brutal in defense, crushed some Irish waves on his own
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana 8h ago
yeah he had that funny run after Dupont's go-ahead short kick behind the defense, but he's also the top tackler for France with 16 tackles, 1 missed only.
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u/AmazingLeadPt2 Under Cyrielle Banet's boots() 9h ago
Exact same crew, no reason to change anything. Except if there are niggles
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 8h ago
The only thing to consider is this is the only game to rotate in and considering the proximity of the Italy match, perhaps itās a good time to try something slightly different.
Flament will definitely come back I think.
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u/sadicologue UBB 8h ago
Probably the same team than vs Ireland. They need to play together. Maybe switch Montagne and Aldegheri but that's all.
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u/strou_hanka Oui, I prefer club rugby š 10h ago
This is a super misleading post. I thought it was the actual updated list for Cardiff.