{"id":19789,"date":"2021-02-12T14:47:59","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T18:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19789"},"modified":"2021-02-13T09:49:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-13T13:49:55","slug":"france-to-start-penaud-instead-of-thomas-against-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19789","title":{"rendered":"France To Start Penaud Instead Of Thomas Against Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"France have dropped Teddy Thomas to the bench for Sunday\u2019s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland.<\/p>\n

Racing 92 wing Thomas scored twice in last weekend\u2019s thumping 50-10 win away to Italy but Damian Penaud has been preferred on the right flank for the visit to Dublin.<\/p>\n

Head coach Fabien Galthie has also altered his back row, bringing in Anthony Jelonch at blindside flanker in place of Dylan Cretin, who claimed the opening try in Rome.<\/p>\n

There are three new faces among the replacements, with props Uini Atonio and Hassane Kolingar replacing Dorian Aldegheri and the injured Jean-Baptiste Gros, while versatile back Anthony Bouthier takes Louis Carbonel\u2019s place in the 23.<\/p>\n

Galthie admits France will have to adapt to Ireland being without injured half-back duo Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray but does not expect the inclusion of deputies Billy Burns and Jamison Gibson-Park to significantly alter the opposition\u2019s play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the combination that ended the game against Wales which begins,\u201d he said of Burns and Gibson-Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have to adapt to this change. It won\u2019t change the way they play too much.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have to block them at the ruck exits because Gibson-Park likes to carry the ball. Burns is of the same caliber. This team is experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Les Bleus are bidding for a first Six Nations success at the Aviva Stadium in a decade, having failed to win on their past four visits.<\/p>\n

Galthie added: \u201cYou have to be prepared for any challenge, anywhere and against anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to prepare to experience chaos as solidly as possible. This is what we prepare for without forgetting to face the unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flanker Charles Ollivon captains Les Bleus from the back row, lining up alongside Jelonch and Gregory Alldritt, with the South Africa-born duo of Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse in the second row, behind hooker Julien Marchand and props Mohamed Haouas and Cyril Baille.<\/p>\n

Influential scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who scored a try and created four more at Stadio Olimpico, continues his pairing with fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.<\/p>\n

Gael Fickou and Arthur Vincent will start in midfield, with Penaud, Gabin Villiere and full-back Brice Dulin forming the back three.<\/p>\n

France:<\/strong> B Dulin (La Rochelle); D Penaud (Clermont Auvergne), A Vincent (Montpellier), G Fickou (Stade Fran\u00e7ais), G Villiere (Toulon); M Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), A Dupont (Toulouse); C Baille (Toulouse), J Marchand (Toulouse), M Haouas (Montpellier), B Le Roux (Racing 92), P Willemse (Montpellier), A Jelonch (Castres Olympique), C Ollivon (Toulon, capt), G Alldritt (La Rochelle).<\/p>\n

Replacements:<\/em> P Bourgarit (La Rochelle), H Kolingar (Racing 92), U Atonio (La Rochelle), R Taofifenua (Toulon), D Cretin (Lyon), B Serin (Toulon), A Bouthier (Montpellier), T Thomas (Racing 92).<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>