Boudehent clears up the doubt
France’s back row picture settled this afternoon. Paul Boudehent, rested on Tuesday, took part in the final full session at Marcoussis wearing the number 6 bib. That puts the La Rochelle forward next to Cameron Woki and François Cros, who is at number eight, for Saturday’s Nations Championship match against Fiji in Lyon (9:10pm local time).
Esteban Capilla of Bayonne had been ready in case Boudehent could not train. His first cap now looks set to wait. The staff value Boudehent’s carrying power at a time when France have few big ball carriers to call on.
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Auradou squeezed out
The second row is the other story. Verhaeghe and Guillard are paired up front, and that choice should leave Hugo Auradou out of the 23. The Pau forward had worked as a starter since the squad gathered last week.
Behind the starters, Tom Staniforth, Charles Ollivon and Oscar Jegou are expected on the bench among the forwards, and Régis Montagne is confirmed as the replacement prop. The probable side has Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack at half-back, with Bielle-Biarrey, Moefana, Gourgues, Grandidier Nkanang and Attissogbe behind the pack.
Fourteen players will be released back to their clubs after the squad meeting. Fabien Galthié names the team officially on Thursday morning, with the press conference moved forward to 10am, and the group travels to Lyon by train.
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