Fickou & Blues vs All Blacks: Final Match Preview
France Rugby: Galthié Rings the Changes for All Blacks Showdown
Paris, France – Following a tough outing in Wellington last weekend, where France succumbed to a 43-17 defeat against the All Blacks, head coach Fabien Galthié has made meaningful personnel adjustments for the crucial third and final match of the summer tour.The aim is clear: to field a more experienced and cohesive unit capable of challenging the formidable New Zealand side.
Key Personnel Returns Bolster French Squad
The French backline sees some notable comebacks, with seasoned campaigners Gaël Fickou and gabin Villière returning to the starting lineup.Their experience is expected to be invaluable in shoring up a defense that was tested heavily in the previous encounter. At fullback, Léo Barré retains his spot, while Yoram Moefana is partnered with Fickou in the midfield. The fly-half position sees a change, with Antoine Hastoy stepping in for Joris Segonds, who struggled in the second test. This move signals a desire for a different playmaking dynamic at number 10.
Forward Pack Reinforcements
In the pack, the experienced grégory Alldritt returns to anchor the back row at number 8, flanked by François Cros and Patrick Sobela. The second row features the formidable partnership of Paul Gabrillagues and Bastien chalureau, tasked with providing a strong platform in the set-piece. The front row sees the veteran Rabah Slimani, who faced difficulties in the first test, earn another start alongside hooker Peato Mauvaka and tighthead prop Uini Atonio. This front-row combination will need to deliver a dominant performance against the All Blacks’ powerful scrum.
The XV of France:
Fullback: Léo Barré
Wing: Damian Penaud
Center: Gaël Fickou (Captain)
Centre: Yoram Moefana
Wing: Gabin Villière
Fly-half: Antoine Hastoy
Scrum-half: Maxime Lucu
Number 8: Grégory Alldritt
Flanker: François Cros
Flanker: Patrick Sobela
Second Row: Paul Gabrillagues
Second Row: Bastien Chalureau
Tighthead Prop: Uini Atonio
Hooker: Peato Mauvaka
loosehead Prop: Cyril Baille
Replacements:
Prop: Reda Wardi
Hooker: Julien Marchand
Prop: Sipili Falatea
Second Row: Romain Taofifenua
Flanker: Alexandre Roumat
Scrum-half: Nolann Le Garrec
Fly-half: Matthieu Jalibert
* Fullback: Thomas Ramos
It’s worth noting that Théo Attissogbe and Nolann Le Garrec are the only two French players to have featured in all three matches of this demanding summer tour, highlighting their consistent presence and importance to the squad. This final test against the All Blacks presents a significant prospect for France to end their tour on a high note and demonstrate their growing potential.