With 15 days to go before the start of the autumn tour (against South Africa on 8 November), France will have to do without Matthieu Jalibert, injured in the thigh, and without their experienced lock Romain Taofifénua, both forced to withdraw. To replace them, head coach Fabien Galthié has turned to young Racing 92 fly-half Ugo Seunes and lock Baptiste Pesenti to strengthen the squad.

More absences on Monday for the France camp at Marcoussis. Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who went off early on Saturday evening during UBB’s win over Bayonne (41-12) after a scare with his right thigh, will not be able to take part in the preparation for the first test match, against South Africa on 8 November. He shared his concern on the Canal + microphone: “I felt something strange in my thigh, an area where I’ve had a history for a few years now. I can’t know exactly what I’ve got, but from what I feel, I don’t get the impression it’s very positive. It’s a sensitive area for me, one that can give me bad sensations, but honestly, I haven’t got much hope… It rather spoils the party for me.” The FFR announced his withdrawal from the France camp.

From Pro D2 to France

At the same time, Racing lock Romain Taofifénua, a genuine impact player since the start of the Galthié era, who was injured in the game against Pau, also withdraws. To make up for these absences, the staff have decided to call on another Racing player, in the shape of Ugo Seunes. At 24 and on a steep upward curve (a summer arrival from Aurillac and Pro D2), the fly-half is called into the extended 42-man squad for the first time. At lock, Paris-based Baptiste Pesenti (28, 6 caps) is recalled to cover for Taofifénua.

Head coach Fabien Galthié has pushed a principle of “like-for-like replacement” to limit the impact of the withdrawals. Finally, these two absences add to an already long list in the France squad, with Montpellier back-rower Lenni Nouchi having already been replaced by Bordeaux’s Pierre Bochaton even before this announcement.