On the eve of the announcement of the France line-up against the Springboks, one lesson emerged on Wednesday after training. The France staff will ultimately opt for a 6-2 bench rather than a 7-1 (six forwards and two backs).

Several profiles will make up that bench. First, the newcomer Guillaume Cramont, at hooker. He will take over from Julien Marchand, his team-mate at Toulouse. In the prop department, the experienced Jean-Baptiste Gros and Dorian Aldegheri will finish the match. Two heavyweights in the scrum.

Two Bordeaux-Bègles men chosen on the bench

In the second row, the aerial Hugo Auradou, who has made an excellent start to the season with Pau, will be there, as will the powerful Romain Taofifenua. The latter, held up by injury, will indeed take his place. His power will hardly go to waste.

It remained to be decided whether one or two backs would be placed on the bench. Along with flanker Oscar Jégou, it is finally the Bordeaux-Bègles pair Maxime Lucu and Nicolas Depoortère who have been chosen by the France staff. Unsurprisingly, the bench should line up like that. The answer comes at 11am on Thursday.