France’s starting XV to face New Zealand on Saturday sees a formidable attacking threat return to the fold in a lineup stacked with Bordeaux Bègles players.
Coach Fabien Galthie has recalled record try-scorer Damian Penaud for their Nations Championship clash in Christchurch.
Players from French champions Toulouse and fellow finalists Montpellier were not available for the Test.
Eight Bordeaux players are in the run-on side, including hooker Maxime Lamothe, prop Jefferson Poirot and loose forwards Pierre Bochaton and Marko Gazzotti.
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Their clubmate Maxime Lucu will captain Les Bleus at scrumhalf alongside Matthieu Jalibert at 10, with Bordeaux centre Yoram Moefana and wing Penaud also selected.
Penaud is France’s leading try-scorer with 40, but was left out of their Six Nations squad after being prone to what were seen as defensive blunders.
Fullback Max Spring, 25, will win his second cap and play the country of his father Sean’s birth, just as his brother Tom, of Bayonne, did a year ago during the 2025 tour of New Zealand.
France lost that series 3-0 but again had left players at home because of club commitments.
FRANCE – 15 Max Spring, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Theo Attissogbe, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Pierre Bochaton, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Marko Gazzotti, 5 Hugo Auradou, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Demba Bamba.
Bench: 16 Barnabe Massa, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Nolann Le Garrec, 22 Antoine Hastoy, 23 Nicolas Depoortere.
– AFP
Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
The post Les Bleus recall backline linchpin appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
France’s starting XV to face New Zealand on Saturday sees a formidable attacking threat return to the fold in a lineup stacked with Bordeaux Bègles players.
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