MY ACCOUNT
France head coach Fabien Galthie has been forced into one change for Friday’s Six Nations clash with Wales and fears others may yet be ruled out with coronavirus.
Les Blues lead the way at the top of the standings with three wins from three ahead of their trip to the Principality Stadium to face a struggling Wales side.
However, the visitors will be without wing Damian Penaud and second row Romain Taofifenua after both players tested positive for COVID-19.
Losing Penaud is a big blow for Galthie as the 25-year-old has beaten 10 defenders in this year’s tournament, the joint-most of any player alongside Scotland’s Darcy Graham.
Indeed, Penaud has faced just 13 tackles in total across France’s three matches, with his tackle evasion rate of 77 per cent the best of any player.
Yoram Moefana will switch to the right wing in the absence of Penaud, who started the 36-17 win over Scotland last time out, with Gabin Villiere drafted into the side on the left.
After losing Penaud and Taofifenua, Galthie is now awaiting the results of further PCR tests ahead of making the trip to the Welsh capital.
“We were notified this morning that they were positive so we had to make last-minute changes,” Galthie told a news conference on Wednesday.
“We are preparing for other changes. We have no additional information yet, but we need to know by Thursday [if more changes will be made].”
In more positive news for France, captain and reigning world player of the year Antoine Dupont has recovered from a knock sustained in training to make the starting XV.
Les Blues have won their last six Test matches, making this their best run of form since 2006, and have won their last two Six Nations meetings with Wales.
France’s 27-23 victory on their last trip to Cardiff in 2020 was their first Six Nations victory in the Welsh capital since 2010, which was also the last time they won the tournament.
France team: Melvyn Jaminet, Yoram Moefana, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (c); Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Paul Willemse, Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mohamed Haouas, Thibaud Flament, Dylan Cretin, Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos, Matthis Lebel.
