France’s under-20s go into their second outing at the U20 World Cup with a heavily reshaped side. To face Spain on Thursday at 11am (French time) in Kutaisi, Georgia, Cédric Laborde has made no fewer than eleven changes to his starting fifteen compared with the opening match. A wholesale rotation he stands by, in a competition where the matches come round every five days.

Eleven changes and only four survivors

After a controlled opening win over Fiji (45-15, bonus point) last weekend, in dreadful conditions marked by rain and thunderstorms, the French management have chosen to reshuffle the pack. Only four players keep their place: captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi, who retains the armband, back-rower Raphaël Audebert, centre Bastien Rasal and wing Hugo Avogadro.

Everything else has changed. The front row is entirely new with Édouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, Yanis Basse and Zak Price. The half-back pairing also has a fresh look, with Valentin Hutteau and Luka Keletaona in charge.

Zak Price and Hutteau handed their chance, UBB well represented

For the young La Rochelle tighthead prop Zak Price, this meeting with Spain will bring a first cap in the France U20 jersey. The same first-time logic applies to Valentin Hutteau, the Bordeaux-Bègles scrum-half, who will make his first start in the competition.

Union Bordeaux-Bègles are in fact the club with the most representatives in this squad, with four players called up. A Gironde surge that is being confirmed as the tournament goes on.

Laborde stands by his squad management

In his press conference, Cédric Laborde justified his sweeping changes without hesitation. “As I said right from the start, we have a very even group. The idea is to bring everyone into the competition and give each of them some rhythm”, the head coach said. “This competition is very unusual, with a match every five days. You also have to look after the bodies if you want to go as far as possible.”

The French coach also has injuries to deal with. Clermont centre Timéo Frier has withdrawn after a hand injury sustained against Fiji. He is replaced in the squad by Bordeaux’s Adrien Drault, the fourth reinforcement called up since the start of the preparation, after Paul Cellio Zwiler, Hugo Avogadro and Elia Masi.

A Spain side stung into action

On the other side, Spain arrive with a serious score to settle. The Spanish are coming off a heavy defeat by Australia (90-22) and will be looking for a proud response. Laborde is expecting an opponent out for revenge, which takes nothing away from France’s ambition: to back up the good start and aim for a second win to move closer to qualification.

The France U20 team to face Spain

Starting XV: 1. Jabea Njocke (Racing 92), 2. Basse (Racing 92), 3. Price (La Rochelle), 4. Michaux (Clermont), 5. Portat (Toulouse), 6. Andjisseramatchi (capt., La Rochelle), 7. Audebert (Montpellier), 8. Baret (LOU), 9. Hutteau (Bordeaux-Bègles), 10. Keletaona (Brive), 11. Cellio Zwiler (Provence Rugby), 12. Rasal (Bayonne), 13. Mascarenc (Perpignan), 14. Avogadro (Grenoble), 15. Rates (Montpellier).

Replacements: Masi (Racing 92), Frisach (Bordeaux-Bègles), Langlois (Grenoble), Bonnard Martin (Toulouse), Bissu (Bordeaux-Bègles), Tilloles (Bayonne), Jurd (La Rochelle), Drault (Bordeaux-Bègles).