Composition of the XV of France: "We do not want to return", launches Jacques Brunel

Jacques Brunel has officialized this Friday the composition of the XV of France who will face Wales on Sunday at Oita (9:15 in France) in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

As expected, Antoine Dupont and Damian Penaud, who had been preserved earlier this week, will be present at the kickoff. And that while the Clermont winger did his final test Thursday: "If he was not fit 100%, it would not be on the sheet," said the coach.

Guilhem Guirado, substitute in the last two games against the United States and Tonga, will hold and captain as against Argentina. "There was no debate," Jacques Brunel evaded.

There is only one change compared to the inaugural victory in this competition against the Argentineans: Bernard Le Roux won his place at the expense of Arthur Iturria thanks to his remarkable performance against the Americans in Fukuoka. "I really like this type of player with a lot of activity," said Jacques Brunel.

Arthur Iturria is therefore one of the big losers of this composition. The Basque did not succeed either to sneak in the third line. "The third line that has emerged is the one that is aligned, justified Jacques Brunel Gregory Alldritt still has a little difficulty late in the game, we preferred to favor the contribution of Louis Picamoles (Ed, as a substitute ). "

Finally, Vincent Rattez will take his place on the bench of substitutes: the Rochelais, who had participated in all the preparation without being selected for the World Cup, returned last week to compensate for the package of Thomas Ramos.

Although the predictions are unfavorable to the France team, Jacques Brunel believes in the chances of his team:

"These are cleaver matches, we do not want to go back to France, but for that, we will have to make a full match. (…) There is a big challenge, but if we manage to get some Consistency, we think we have our chances … (…) I feel inside something very positive, I feel that an osmosis has been created, we can capitalize on it. "

Jacques Brunel

Welsh side, we can note the opening tenure of Dan Biggar victim of two suspicions of concussion in just 10 days. Questioned on this subject, Jacques Brunel delivered this comment: "If we had been in this case in France, two concussions, it's three weeks (of stop)."

XV of France

Medard – Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont – Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret – Vahaamahina, Roux – Slimani, Guiradio (c), Poirot.

replacements : Cat, Baille, Setiano, Gabrillagues, Picamoles, Serin, Lopez, Rattez.

Wales

Liam Williams – North, J. Davies, Parkes, J. Adams – (o) Biggar, (m) Davies – Tipuric, Navidi, Wainwright – AW Jones, Ball – T. Francis, Owens, W. Jones.

replacements: Dee, Square, Lewis, Beard, Moriarty, T. Williams, Patchell, Watkin