Romain Ntamack to make history for France

David Skippers

France fly-half Romain Ntamack will make history when he lines up against Argentina in his team’s Rugby World Cup opener in Tokyo on Saturday.

Ntamack will take to the field as Les Bleus’ chief playmaker in the crucial Pool C clash and, in doing so, he will follow in his father Emile’s footsteps by playing at a World Cup. The older Ntamack represented his country at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups.

This means they will become the first father-son combination to represent France at the global showpiece.

Meanwhile, veteran duo Guilhem Guirado and Louis Picamoles are both set to appear in a third World Cup.

Veteran hooker Guirado will lead the team and is the only player in Les Bleus’ starting line-up who also started in the team’s 62-13 loss to New Zealand in the quarter-finals at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

Picamoles and Bernard le Roux, who are on the replacements bench for Saturday’s clash against Argentina, were also in France’s run-on side against the All Blacks that day.

Veteran full-back Maxime Medard will play in his second World Cup after featuring in all seven matches, including the final against the All Blacks, at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. Medard missed out on selection for the 2015 tournament.

Meanwhile, lock Paul Gabrillagues was not considered for selection for Saturday’s encounter due to suspension, but will be available for France’s second match against the USA on Wednesday, October 2 in Fukuoka City.

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Bernard le Roux, 20 Louis Picamoles, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Thomas Ramos

Date: Saturday, September 21
Venue: Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 16:15 local (08:15 BST, 07:15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

 

News