During the Blues’ first training in Aix this Monday, left pillar Cyril Baille trained in the starting position and will thus make his return through the front door against Namibia, after 5 short weeks of absence.
As widely expected throughout the week, there was little debate when deciding the composition of the team which will face Namibia on Thursday. After the purge against Uruguay during which the reservists failed to seize the chance offered to them, the time will therefore be in Marseille for the mass return of executives. Definitively recovered from his muscular problems, Jonathan Danty will thus find his place in the middle of the field alongside Gaëll Fickou, with the mission of bringing his punch and his power to a sector which has been suffering since the start of the World Cup.
On the left wing, as expected, it is the youngest member of the Louis Bielle-Biarrey group who will start in place of Gabin Villière. The idea consisting as much in breathing down the Toulonnais (the only player in the group to have played 80 minutes twice) as in testing Bielle-Biarrey among the “premiums”, with the prospect of a place on the bench during the big matches, or even better if Villière does not quickly regain his real level…
Jelonch will continue
As for the pack? If Anthony Jelonch will have a second tenure, the real good news lies in the great return of Cyril Baille. Victim of a torn calf against the Fijians in preparation, the left pillar will even start the match for his big return to competition, to the great satisfaction of his coach William Servat. “I tried to support him as best as possible, he also had the opportunity to work with our physical trainer Manu Plaza who was entirely allocated to him, so that he did not fall behind physically. I even the impression that he has progressed further and that he is better than before his injury, with a few kilos less. His return is obviously good news because beyond his ability to perform in scrum, he also has a very interesting gestures, and a lot of experience in our collective. When players who have been with us for 4 years have the opportunity to return to the group, it is very important for everyone. This was already the case with Romain Tao and Antho Jelonch, it’s just as true with him.”
After Baille’s return, the 33 players from the France group will have played in this World Cup. And the only Julien Marchand will now be in the infirmary, more eager than ever to come back for the shifts, and before if possible….
France’s probable XV against Namibia : 15. Ramos; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Bielle-Biarrey; 10. Jalibert, 9. Dupont; 7. Ollivon, 8. Alldritt, 6. Jelonch; 5. Flament, 4. Woki; 3. Atonio, 2. Mauvaka, 1. Yawn.
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