Six Nations: France v Wales, Stade de France, Friday, 8.15 Irish time – Live Virgin Media One
Outhalf Romain Ntamack is back in the France team for the first time in almost 18 months but winger Damian Penaud is injured for the Six Nations opener against Wales, adding to a list of key players unavailable for Friday’s clash at the Stade de France.
Ntamack missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury and his planned comeback last November was curtailed by a calf injury, but he will reprise his highly rated combination with captain Antoine Dupont, coach Fabien Galthie announced. Dupont missed last year’s Six Nations as he was preparing for the Paris Olympics with the France Sevens side, which went on to win gold last summer.
Penaud had been expected to return to the team but suffered a toe injury in training and Pau’s Theo Attissogbe will line up on the wing instead.
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France are already without veteran centre Gael Fickou, lock Thibaud Flament and loose forward Charles Ollivon, with Galthie making five changes in total from their last outing when they beat Argentina 37-23 in Paris in November.
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Ntamack’s return pushes Thomas Ramos to fullback in place of Leo Barre while Pierre-Louis Barassi replaces Fickou in the midfield and Attissogbe takes Gabin Villiere’s place on the wing.
Former captain Gregory Alldritt returns to the back of the pack in place of Ollivon after being dropped ahead of the win over Argentina while Alexandre Roumat is in for Flament.
On the bench, Galthie has included Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, who debuted in Argentina last year but were then arrested on rape charges that were later dropped.
Galthie refused to answer a question about their controversial inclusion. “We’ve already answered these questions a lot. Today is the announcement of the French team, on the players who play, those who perform. I will focus on these answers,” he told reporters.
Auradou and Jegou, both 21, had been under investigation since July for alleged aggravated rape – a charge used for suspected gang rape – in Argentina’s Mendoza province after they both made their international debuts but last month a court dismissed charges and the French federation said they were available for international duty again.
The two players, allowed to leave Argentina in September, always denied any wrongdoing and said the sex was consensual. The plaintiff has appealed the court’s decision and the next hearing will take place on February 10th.
Wales have been boosted by the return of winger Josh Adams, fullback Liam Williams and lock Dafydd Jenkins, but number eight Taulupe Faletau will have to wait to make his return.
The experienced Adams and Williams missed much of last season with injury as Wales seek to end a dismal team record run of 12 defeats in a row dating back to the 2023 Rugby World Cup which has put coach Warren Gatland’s position under the spotlight.
Gatland admits his side has been written off ahead of the Six Nations, but says the mood among the players has been positive despite their horror 2024.
“They’ve been outstanding. There’s been a good buzz around the group. They’ve been excellent,” Gatland told reporters on Wednesday. “The next couple of days, it’s about coaches taking a step back and allowing the players to lead.
“Part of our thinking was bringing some experience back in and getting some balance in. Having a voice and getting some confidence to those around them,” Gatland said of the return of Adams and Williams.
Winger Tom Rogers makes up the back three, with Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins the centre pairing.
Scrumhalf Tomos Williams will be alongside number 10 Ben Thomas, who is usually a centre but picked at flyhalf due to an injury to Sam Costelow and the desire to look at other options beyond Gareth Anscombe.
“We still want to see Ben as a 10 option. He was comfortable about taking on that responsibility,” Gatland said. “He’s comfortable defending there. He can handle that.”
The side will be captained by Jac Morgan, who has James Botham and number eight Aaron Wainwright with him at the back of the scrum. Faletau needs another week of training.
“He’s just not quite ready,” Gatland said. “He’s still part of the squad and he’ll come with us [to France]. We’re hoping he’ll play against Italy [in Rome on February 8th).”
Gatland knows where the key areas in the game will be at the Stade de France on Friday night.
“Set-piece. There’s some big players. We’ve got to get a platform to work off. Then defensively, to shut down their offloading game,” he said.
FRANCE: Thomas Ramos; Theo Attissogbe, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Jean-Baptiste Gros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio; Alexandre Roumat, Emmanuel Meafou; Francois Cros, Paul Boudehent, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Georges-Henri Colombe, Hugo Auradou, Mickel Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Nolann Le Garrec, Emilien Gailleton.
WALES: Liam Williams; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas; Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins; James Botham, Jac Morgan (capt), Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Blair Murray.
