France national rugby team head coach Fabien Galthie grimaces as he holds a press conference on November 8, 2023 in Paris after his team's World Cup exit in quarter-finals. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Four days prior to the team’s departure to Argentina, the French team’s staff announced their final 42-player roster for the tour. Eleven semi-finalists from the Top 14 and twenty-two players with no selection were called, including the third-ranked French player, Romain Briatte. The two surprises are Lucas Dubois (Perpignan) and Simeli Daunivucu (La Rochelle).
The players at the French Stadium did not give up. Horribly eliminated in the semifinals of the Top 14 by the UBB (20–22) on Saturday night in Bordeaux, five Parisians will travel to Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Léo Barré, who was already present for the most recent Six Nations Tournament against the nations of Galles and England, the ailier Lester Etien, the second-line players Baptiste Pesenti (4 selections) and Pierre-Henri Azagoh (2 selections), as well as the third-line Romain Briatte, were called. At thirty-one years old, this last, the creator of a successful season with the capital club, appears to be offering a very good opportunity to explore the international level. Etien and Briatte are two of the 22 randomly selected elements in this group of 42.
This also applies to Oscar Jégou. Playing against La Rochelle this Friday night at the Stade Toulousain (23–39), the young third-line rochelais, who won the world championship for players under 20 years old last summer, will also have a strong hand against Argentina (on July 6 and 13) and Uruguay (on July 10). Lui aussi très bon pour sa première saison au Stade Rochelais; six ans après sa quatrième et dernière sélection, le troisième-ligne Judicaël Cancoriet est également récompensé. Along with centre Jules Favre and opening player Antoine Hastoy, they will also be accompanied by their club partner, pilier c Colombe (two selections), and young centre Simeli Daunivucu (eight match days this season in the club). The true feeling of this group.
