Head coach Fabien Galthié lifted the lid on Thursday morning on his France team for Saturday evening’s clash (9.10pm) against South Africa at the Stade de France, confirming what had leaked the day before. A team sheet with some bold calls, not least the absence of Grégory Alldritt.

“We have never played a team this strong, with a very clear identity.” And perhaps the best team of all time”, began head coach Fabien Galthié as he named his side to take on the world champion Springboks on Saturday evening at the Stade de France (9pm).

Serious beef in the back row

In a top-of-the-bill match to open the autumn tour, the head coach has decided to put his trust in Baptiste Erdocio at loosehead, flanked by Julien Marchand at hooker and Régis Montagne at tighthead. Toulouse pair Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou will be in the engine room. In the back row, it is Mickaël Guillard who starts at number 8, preferred to La Rochelle’s Grégory Alldritt, and who will be flanked by Paul Boudehent and Anthony Jelonch. A robust pack to counter the physical density of the Springboks.

The half-back pairing is a brand-new one: Nolann Le Garrec will play at scrum-half, alongside Romain Ntamack at fly-half. The captain will be Gaël Fickou, partnered by Pierre-Louis Barassi, in the absence of the injured Antoine Dupont. In the back three, and with little surprise, Thomas Ramos is there, flanked by Bordeaux pair Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle‑Biarrey.

The bench, meanwhile, has been set up as a “6-2” (six forwards, two backs), a formation “adapted” to compete with South African abrasiveness.

The France team:


Starting XV: 15 Ramos; 14 Penaud, 13 Barassi, 12 Fickou (capt.), 11 Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Ntamack, 9 Le Garrec; 7 Boudehent, 8 Guillard, 6 Jelonch; 5 Meafou, 4 Flament; 3 Montagne, 2 Marchand, 1 Erdocio.

Finishers : 16 Cramont, 17 Gros, 18 Aldegheri, 19 Taofifenua, 20 Auradou, 21 Jégou, 22 Lucu, 23 Depoortère.