France 6N's 2016 Squad

Guy Noves has today announced his squad for the 6N's

FRENCH SQUAD

Forwards (16): Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Rabah Slimani, Jefferson Poirot, Benjamin Kayser, Yacouba Camara, Damien Chouly, Alexandre Flanquart, Loann Goujon, Guilhem Guirado, Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Sebastien Vahaamahina

Backs (14): Sebastien Bezy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Alexandre Dumoulin, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Scott Spedding, Francois Trinh-Duc

France coach Guy Noves on Tuesday called up five uncapped players for his first 30-strong squad that also featured half-back pairing Francois Trinh-Duc and Maxime Machenaud.

The five new faces are Toulouse scrum-half Sebastien Bezy and flanker Yacouba Camara, Stade Francais centre Jonathan Danty, Clermont lock Paul Jedrasiak and Bordeaux-Begles prop Jefferson Poirot.

Montpellier’s Trinh-Duc and Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson, along with Racing 92’s Machenaud, were all named in the squad which will meet up with the new coaching team on January 4 despite not featuring in the World Cup.

Other players who did not feature in the tournament under Noves’ predecessor Philippe Saint-Andre are Clermont lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, Bordeaux-Begles flanker Loann Goujon and Castres centre Remi Lamerat, who like Trinh-Duc had all just missed the cut.

Full-back/wingers Hugo Bonneval (Stade Francais), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier) and Maxime Medard (Toulouse), and Racing flanker Wenceslas Lauret all make their return to international duty.

Noves, however, has discarded several players who featured for France in their disastrous World Cup campaign, which ended with a 62-13 quarter-final thrashing by eventual champions New Zealand.

Among the backs, centre Mathieu Bastareaud, full-back Brice Dulin, fly-half Remi Tales, scrum-halves Rory Kockott and Sebastien Tillous-Borde, and wingers Sofiane Guitoune and Noa Nakaitaci all failed to make the cut.

Up front, flankers Yannick Nyanga and Fulgence Ouedraogo are joined on the sidelines by prop Vincent Debaty.

After their introductory day at the French federation’s headquarters in Marcoussis, south of Paris, a second day is organised for January 11, the squad list for which will be announced five days previously.

The squad for the first game of the Six Nations, against Italy on February 6, will be unveiled on January 19.

Final squad

- props : Ben Arous, Poirot, Atonio, Slimani
- hookers : Guirado (cap), Chat
- 2nd row : Maestri, Flanquart, Vahaamahina, Jedrasiak
- backrow : Burban, Chouly, Lauret, Camara, Gourdon, Picamoles.
- half backs : Parra, Machenaud, Bézy, Doussain, Plisson
- centres : Dumoulin, Fofana, Lamerat, Fickou, Danty
- back 3 : Bonneval, Fall, Médard, Spedding, Vakatawa.

Not sure what guys like Fall (seriously?), Dumoulin (average 12 with no X factor), Chouly (hope he's there as utility backrow), Medart (not exactly getting quicker) Spedding (a 8 trapped in a FB body) have done to be capped otherwise always good to see new faces. Disappointed not to finally see Chavanvy amongst others and a bit worried by our back 3. Chances are that Fofana will go to the wing (ouch) as I only see Fall as a real winger in that list (double ouch), the other being mainly FBs.

So all in all not that impressed with Noves first squad?

No but then he knows rugby way better than I do! He has to take into account players injuries (huget , grosso) and he can't really introduce a dozen of new capped players ahead of the 6N without any real preparation so there is some balance in his selection. The absence of Bastareaud, Tillous Bordes at least should point towards a different game plan.

Is that his first squad, being the first one he's picked, or will there be a second training squad?

Dammit Basteraud hasn't been picked ...that means they wont be playing an overated prop in the centre and might play some rugby.

Nematode wrote:Is that his first squad, being the first one he's picked, or will there be a second training squad?

This squad is just for next Monday meet and brief with the coaches. Understand there will be another 30 players list for the same thing the following Monday (probably a very similar list). So there is no certainty that this squad will the one starting in the 6N specially as some of those players are still injured.

According to Planetrugby, Guirado has been named French Captain.

Squad for next Monday get to know meeting has been announced.
Camille Chat (Racing , 20 years old , hooker), Vincent Pello (La Rochelle , 27, prop) and Kevin Gourdon ( la Rochelle, 25, flanker) replacing Kayser, Slimani and Le Roux from the above list.

the real 6N squad will be released on the 19th of January and might even include players from outside those lists if necessary (like Clerc who Noves knows well enough).

Noves has narrowed down his selection to 31 men for the trainings taking place end January prior the start of the 6N :
- props : Ben Arous, Poirot, Atonio, Slimani
- hookers : Guirado (cap), Chat
- 2nd row : Maestri, Flanquart, Vahaamahina, Jedrasiak
- backrow : Burban, Chouly, Lauret, Camara, Gourdon, Picamoles.
- half backs : Parra, Machenaud, Bézy, Doussain, Plisson
- centres : Dumoulin, Fofana, Lamerat, Fickou, Danty
- back 3 : Bonneval, Fall, Médard, Spedding, Vakatawa.

key facts :
- in bold you have 8 uncapped players - some of them were recently in U21 and U20 while Vakatawa was in France 7s team for over a year now but has been called due to lack of winger options.
- there is 3 players that were not even on the initial lists (doussain , burbana and vakatawa). Doussain replaces Trinh Duc who still hasn't played since his injury earlier In the season. that might suggest that Noves will try a Stade Toulousain half-backs pairing to start with (bezy-doussain).

whocares Why isn't Schwarzeski not in the French squad? Isn't he the captain of Racing Metro?

Though saying that my knowledge of most of these French players isn't great as the French squad seems to have chopped and changed a lot.

Would you mind giving a bit of info on these newcomers and the overall squad?

sure thing Beshocked, my pleasure.
Szarcewski amongst other experienced members of the French squad retired after the world cup (mas, dusautoir, papé, michalak etc).
Camille Chat , a pure product of racing academy , is still 2nd choice hooker but has really played very well specially during the world cup. he's a very good prospect and hasn't got many flaws despite being only 20 years old. Jefferson Poirot is slightly older (23) is from Brive academy and joined Bordeaux 3 seasons ago, a mobile loosehead (think ben arous) who improved his scrummaging abilities durin the last couple of year and , with the likes of debaty and Domingo being not as good or too old now, finally had a chance.
Jedrasiak (21) , former U21 captain (think during the year we had a 6N GS or the year before) is a pure product of Clermont and plays there, also benefited of having more game time during the world cup (and also injury of cudmore). Camara (22) has been under the spot light in Toulouse for a while now, future replacement of Dusautoir in my opinion, mobile flanker and good tackler. Sebastien Bezy (24 yo, SH, Toulouse) started playing regularly last season when they realized Vermaak was rubbish and Doussain got more game time at 10, has plenty of talent , he's not big but quite fast - not to be mistaken with his older brother Nicolas (who plays now in Brive). Finally Jonathan Danty (23 yo , stade Français), think about a more mobile version of Bastareaud who doesn't always run straight into traffic. have to say am not very familiar with kevin gourdon ( 25 ) who plays flanker at La Rochelle (initially from Clemront academy). Vakatawa (23) is another fidjian who has been with racing since 18 or 19 and went to 7s where he really has been the star of the French team.

As Noves said, there is no point in selecting players that will not be around in 2 years time.

Overall if you look at the squad in terms of player quality and depth you can split it in two :
- negatives : TH depth (really nobody behind Slimani who is ok but not great), Fly half position (no depth at all, Plisson is good at club level but has yet to play a good game for france, after him it only gets worst) , number 8 (nobody really close to Picamoles as backup, Chouly shouldnt be near this squad anymore). with the likes of Grosso , Huget injured and Dulin slightly out of form, our back 3 is probably the most average I have seen on paper for a while (and they are almost all full backs as well). Spedding is in my opinion a waste of space for the game Noves intends to play (you can see the difference in Clermont when he replaces abendanon)
- positives : plenty of depth and quality coming at flanker, same for SHs and enough variety and quality in terms of centres, 2nd row while not incredible should be solid.

When will Gillian Galan be making his international debut?

He was all the rage a few years ago, but seems to have fallen off the radar.

bluestonevedder wrote:When will Gillian Galan be making his international debut?

He was all the rage a few years ago, but seems to have fallen off the radar.

don't think he will ever make it... he has plenty of power but he's probably a poor's man Vunipola now , often injured and with a poorer work rate.

I cannot believe France can be as bad as they were under Saint-André. Losing fatty in the centres is a good sign.

Exiledinborders wrote:I cannot believe France can be as bad as they were under Saint-André.  Losing fatty in the centres is a good sign.

I think this alone could make a big difference. Everything just slows down when he gets the ball.

This French squad is a bit of an opposing squad to Scotlands, as in on paper it looks particularly average, but there are some players there in good form, playing regularly high class rugby. If Noves game plan is how we think he wants to play they could prove dangerous.

Some awfull names there though, and surprised Dulin hasn't been given the benefit of the doubt despite form.

Last 2 seaosns and RWC I was very critical of France, and St Andre, and feared nothing from them, this season though they have a few question marks, but realistically can't get any worse than they have been for 2 seasons, and with Italy up first, and 2 home games they could go to the MS with momentum.

Thanks whocares. Appreciate the analysis.

How do you think you'll do in the 6 nations?

I do think new coach and new personnel should give you some optimism.

Interesting to see how this man goes;

Virimi Vakatawa Video:

Cynic in me says they are just including him to cap him and tie him to France. He's been exclusively playing 7s for the last couple of years.

Honestly Vakatawa is a stop gap for the 6N. The fact is contracted by the FFR makes things very easy.
Beahocked, I don't believe at all we stand a chance to win despite having 3 home games. We will probably lose to one of Ireland or England plus Wales away most certainly. Playing positive rugby would already be an improvement. Like Noves said , we can't turn a pumpkin into a nice carriage...

Thanks for the analysis, WhoCares.

Makes sense that Noves is looking to Toulouse players as he'll know these guys better than anyone else.

Disappointing for all of us that Fatty Arbuckle has gone and Vahaamahina has come back. The guy is an absolute monster and is only 24 for god's sake.

How competitive can this French team be this year?

Another winger injury replacement with marvin o Connor (24 yo, Montpelier winger, 8 tries in 15 games this season, born in France from an ex rugby league Australian father) replacing Benjamin fall.

more injury replacements:
- Morgan Parra ironically replaced by yesterday opposing SH Baptiste Serin
- Sébastien Vahaamahina replaced by Bernard Le roux who was originally taken out of the Italy game preparation squad as he's getting married during the same weekend !

Who cares, first time I saw Serin was yesterday v Clermont. was very impressed. What's the general view in France on him.

personally I think he has the qualities to succeed as an international SH. keeping in mind he's only 21 and 2 years ago he was with the U20 winning the 6N, he's already showing some leadership and he's often even captain. He has a good quick pass , a decent strong right boot and is quite creative as well (see link )

Lots of injuries for the French then?

Yacouba Camara look a superb player to me, Serin also. Surprised that Dulin is not in the squad but he has not been a great player this year.

Fofana and Fickou in the centre could be amazing.

This could be a very exciting French team

And so it continues... dumoulin out for a small injury replaced by Mermoz.
It was already difficult to have an idea of what backline will start but now it's near impossible!

Is the French season too long?

Are players over played?

Is the T14 too attritional?

All or the above would apply if we were talking about the end June tour... Don't think the mentioned players are actually overplayed (specially someone like dumoulin) and other internationals benefit from extra holidays post World Cup. Some got minor injuries as well.

Those Stade Francais centres look really good, Dante especially.

Losing Vahaamahina is a big blow, replacing him with Le Roux is a bit weird. A genuine number 5 being replaced by an admittedly very large 7! I suppose it shows the lack of depth in that position in France. Guess it means Maestri will continue at 5. He has actually looked good for Toulouse, where the pack are trying to be a bit more mobile than previous seasons, when they were coached by Noves!

vahaamahina is back I think. However Fofana is out for the Italy game, replaced by teddy thomas who played 59 minutes after a very long injury break. We're lucky it's Italy at home...

Clermont vs MP was a good game. Really enjoyed that

Yea it looks like the wheels are coming off the Clermont season but im not so sure. yes they have let some winning positions slip, with a lack of concentration and composure at times, and discipline has been an issue. However if Abendenon gets fit soon and once the pitches firm up then Clermont may rediscover their mojo. After all they won 5 and drew one of their first 6 games when the pitches were in great nick.
Vahaamahina has been great for Clermont since his arrival from Perpignan and if he is fit it will be a big boost for Les Bleus.

What I like about the French team this year is that the have a man who knows French rugby at the helm. Toulouse have nearly always played with panache when Noves was coach.

France coach Guy Noves names his team at 10.0am and, having already lost Louis Picamoles, he will also be without Gael Fickou for personal reasons, with Maxime Mermoz tipped to take his place.
The former Toulouse supremo is contemplating switching Damien Chouly to No 8 in Picamole's absence, with uncapped La Rochelle back-row Kevin Gourdon and Loann Goujon also in contention.

France boss Guy Novès has made made six changes to his starting line-up for their Six Nations clash against Ireland in Paris on Saturday.

In the backs, Teddy Thomas replaces Hugo Bonneval on the right wing while Maxime Mermoz takes over from Gaël Fickou at outside centre.

With Louis Picamoles injured, Damien Chouly shifts from the flank to number eight while Yacouba Camara will wear the number seven shirt.

In the front row, props Uini Atonio and Jefferson Poirot replace Rabah Slimani and Eddy Ben Arous, while Alexandre Flanquart comes in for Paul Jedrasiak in the second row.



France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sébastien Bezy, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot.


Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain, 23 Hugo Bonneval

Date: Saturday, February 13
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 15:25 local (14:25 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

So he benches his two best props to start two inferior ones ... rightt

BamBam wrote:So he benches his two best props to start two inferior ones ... rightt

Wales picked Rob Evans vs White last weekend in similar vein, guess coaches think Ireland are a bit lightweight in the scrum

Wasn't that because Garces usually pings Jenkins off the park?

With France having an eye on development I guess it's a good move. I don't recognise a lot of the new players, and they didn't look great against a weak Italy either. I think Ireland will win this one.

BamBam wrote:Wasn't that because Garces usually pings Jenkins off the park?

Poite is the one who has it in for Jenkins. I can't remember many past games where Garces has had Jenkins' number? TBH Welsh teams just don't get along that well with French ref's compared to ref's of other nationalities, it was a trend I first noticed a while back in the European competition.

Oh ok, might be mixing the two of them up

BamBam wrote:So he benches his two best props to start two inferior ones ... rightt

that's the theory. last weekend the entire starting front row performed quite badly to be honest so there is some logic.
the backrow is already quite light and will struggle against the likes of Stander , SOB and Heaslip so having some ball carrying props can help. I think we will get bullied at the breakdown and our only small hope is to compete at scrum time and not lose too many of our line outs (hence the inclusion of flanquart and chouly who really lack grunt but at least normally perform ok on line outs). Expect Ireland to kick as much as they can towards our wingers who are not exactly know for being good under high balls. If France repeat the same type of defensive performance that they had against Italy we might witness the most embarrassing home loss against an European nation.

BamBam wrote:Wasn't that because Garces usually pings Jenkins off the park?

We could have picked Paul James instead, many Welsh posters on here would rather see james than Jenkins and have done for several years now.