Romain Ntamack will once again start at flyhalf when France take on the Boks in Marseille on Saturday. Romain Ntamack will once again start at flyhalf when France take on the Boks in Marseille on Saturday. Photo: Franck Fife/AFP
Cape Town — France coach Fabien Galthie has kept faith with the same starting line-up that edged out Australia for Saturday’s clash against world champions South Africa in Marseille (10pm kickoff).
Les Bleus scored a late try through wing Damian Penaud for a 30-29 victory at the Stade de France in Paris last weekend, after the Wallabies had taken the lead via Reece Hodge’s 74th-minute penalty.
Galthie called up 15 extra players this week to prepare for the Boks, following injuries to locks Killian Geraci and SA-born Paul Willemse, but the former Western Province scrumhalf opted for the XV that began the Australian Test once more.
Star No.9 Antoine Dupont will captain the team and will be partnered by impressive flyhalf Romain Ntamack, while inside centre Jonathan Danty has retained his No.12 jersey despite not training with the French squad this week due to the birth of his child last Sunday.
A highly physical French pack will be spearheaded by the powerful front row of Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand and Uini Atonio, but there are a few new faces on the replacements’ bench, where loosehead prop Reda Wardi and giant lock Bastien Chalureau are in line to make their Test debuts.
The French are on an 11-match winning streak, and will hope to topple the Boks after losing 29-26 in their last encounter in Paris in 2018.
France (15-1): Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (captain), Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille. Bench (16-23): Peato Mauvaka, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Bastien Chalureau, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert.
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