XV of France: Dupont rather than Lucu at the opening, Alldritt back… Galthié reveals his team to challenge the Springboks

After a rather quiet first climb, an exceptional pass. The Blues launched their return phase of the Nations Championship last Saturday with a great success against the limited Fijians (54-17). This time, Antoine Dupont's gang will have a hard time facing the South Africans, double reigning world champions and terrors of the oval planet. For this colossal challenge, Fabien Galthié revealed his team composition this Wednesday, forced and forced to deal with a cascade of injured people (for a total of around twenty absentees).

And the list of players in the infirmary grew further on Saturday at Groupama Stadium, with Romain Ntamack's serious shoulder injury. More than problematic in the key position of opener, already deprived of Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy. After having helped out (with great success) at the number 10 position, Maxime Lucu will this time recover his usual position of scrum half and it is Antoine Dupont who will play at the opening. Their agreement had worked well in Lyon, it remains to be seen how it will work out in Saint-Denis, in reversed roles. And facing the South African hinge composed of Morné Van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who blows a wind of youth and madness.

Julien Marchand, recalled and directly appointed

The other big change in the starting XV of the Blues is the return of Grégory Alldritt as a starter. The number 8 from Stade Rochelais, a long-time manager of the France group, had been sidelined since November 2025. He will play (very) big against the difficult Boks, still impressive in the physical challenge. A return which compensates for another injured, that of the solid Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), injured in a calf. François Cros (Toulouse), started last Saturday at number 8, returns to his usual place as flanker, alongside Cameron Woki (UBB).

Another change in size and reinforcement in weight: Toulouse hooker Julien Marchand, back in competition and decisive last week against Clermont, makes his return as a starter, Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse) remains on the bench and Maxime Lamothe (UBB), starter against Fiji, leaves the group. For the rest, no other changes to note among the holders. Yoram Moefana (UBB) and Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse) will continue in the center, the rear triangle and the second row remain unchanged.

Desperes rather than Graou on the bench in 6-2

It was on the bench that Fabien Galthié and his staff made some adjustments: Toulouse left pillar Rodrigue Neti, recalled this week, was preferred to Jefferson Poirot. And the young opener from Pau, Axel Desperes, should make his international debut if he comes into play. In a 6-2 bench, he was preferred to Paul Graou (Toulouse). Three scrum halves on the scoresheet would have been unprecedented...

Before this clash of the hemispheres, France and South Africa occupy first place in their group, with 17 and 20 points respectively. The loser will therefore give up valuable points in the fight for first place, before the sixth and final day which will determine the classification matches which will take place at Twickenham (November 27, 28 and 29). The Blues will not start as favorites on Friday against a South African team which has won nine of the last ten confrontations, but “we are going to ensure that the French team comes out with something that we do not expect”, insisted Fabien Galthié.