Three years after dominating world Under-20 rugby together, Lenni Nouchi, Oscar Jégou and Marko Gazzotti are reunited in the France back row against Australia on Saturday. A reunion awaited since 2023, and a first at senior level.

U20 world champions together in 2023

The trio is no accident of circumstance. Nouchi, Jégou and Gazzotti wrote a chapter of France U20 history in 2023, the year of the U20 World Championship title. During that winning campaign, the three thrashed New Zealand U20 35-14, all three starting in the back row. They had already been paired up during the U20 Six Nations that same season, from the demolition of England at Twickenham (42-7) to the hammering handed out to Wales (67-17).

Three years of near misses

Once they turned professional, their paths diverged: Nouchi to Montpellier, Jégou to La Rochelle, Gazzotti to Union Bordeaux-Bègles. And while each has climbed the ladder towards the France team, the three had never been named in the same matchday squad.

The data confirms it: at senior level, Galthié had only ever been able to pair two of them at a time. Jégou and Nouchi shared the pitch during the 2026 Six Nations (against Ireland, Wales, Italy and Scotland) and as far back as the tour of Argentina in summer 2024. Gazzotti and Jégou were paired last week against New Zealand (a 34-32 defeat). But the full trio, never.

The first time is on Saturday

Against Australia, the puzzle will finally be complete: Jégou at 6, Nouchi at 7, Gazzotti at 8. A first since their junior years, and a bet on continuity from a France staff that has never hidden its interest in the 2003-2004 generation. A year out from the World Cup, reassembling a unit that knows each other inside out is far from insignificant.

Now the promise has to be delivered. France have already beaten these same Wallabies 48-33 last November, but are coming off a defeat to the All Blacks. To get their campaign back on track in Brisbane, they will lean on a back row with a glorious past and a promising future.