Baptiste Serin to captain new-look France

David Skippers

Baptiste Serin during the international test rugby union match between France and Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 30, 2019.France won 47-19. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

France head coach Fabien Galthie has rung the changes to his matchday squad for their Autumn Nations Cup Test against Italy in Paris on Saturday.

Experienced scrum-half Baptiste Serin will captain his country for the first time and he forms a half-back partnership with Matthieu Jalibert, who finished with a 17-point haul in Les Bleus’ triumph over Scotland at Murrayfield last week.

Galthie has named a youthful team with Jalibert and right wing Teddy Thomas the only survivors from that match against Scotland in the run-on side. Thomas is joined in the back three by full-back Brice Dulin – who is set to play his first international in three years – and Gabin Villière, who will make his Test debut against the Azzurri.

Outside centre Jean-Pascal Barraque is another debutant in the side and he forms a midfield combination with Jonathan Danty.

In the forwards, Stade Français flanker Sekou Macalou will make his first Test appearance since 2017 and he is joined in the back-row by Anthony Jelonch (number eight) and Cameron Woki.

Baptiste Pesenti and Kilian Geraci pack down in the second-row while Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka is joined in the front-row by Dorian Aldegheri and Rodrigue Neti, who are the starting props.

Pesenti, Kilian Geraci and Neti will also make their Test debuts in this fixture.

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Baptiste Serin (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Sekou Macalou, 6 Cameron Woki, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 4 Kilian Geraci, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Rodrigue Neti
Replacements: 16 Teddy Baubigny, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Swan Rebbadj, 21 Baptiste Couilloud, 22 Louis Carbonel, 23 Yoram Moefana

Date: Saturday, November 28
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21:10 local (20:10 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley, Mike Adamson
Television match official: Sam Grove-White

 

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