Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert has been named in France’s squad for their Nations Championship opener against the All Blacks, while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont could join them a week later.
France coach Fabien Galthié on Tuesday named a trimmed 33-man squad for the clash in Christchurch on 4 July, with several stars from back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux Bègles set to form the backbone of the touring party.
Jalibert is joined by fellow Bordeaux players Maxime Lucu, Nicolas Depoortere, Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana, Marko Gazzotti and Maxime Lamothe, while veteran prop Jefferson Poirot is in line for his first Test appearance since 2019 after earning a recall. However, star wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey is being rested.
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A number of players from Top 14 finalists Toulouse and Montpellier will join the squad after Saturday’s domestic decider, although they will not be available for the opening Test against New Zealand.
That group is expected to include France captain Dupont, with reports in the French media suggesting the 29-year-old could travel to the southern hemisphere for the first time since 2017 when he played against the Springboks in South Africa.
France face the Wallabies in Brisbane on 11 July and Japan in Tokyo a week later.
France Nations Championship squad
Forwards: Moses Alo-Émile, Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Esteban Capilla, Sipili Falatea, Marko Gazzotti, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Maxime Lamothe, Barnabé Massa, Temo Matiu, Régis Montagne, Boris Palu, Jefferson Poirot, Tom Staniforth, Tevit Tatafu, Killian Tixeront, Reda Wardi.
Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Nicolas Depoortere, Mathis Ferté, Théo Forner, Émilien Gailleton, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Nolann le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Max Spring.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Dupont going Down Under? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert has been named in France’s squad for their Nations Championship opener against the All Blacks, while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont could join them a week later.
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