France’s head coach Fabien Galthie has made a significant change to his lineup for the upcoming match against Fiji, appointing Gregory Alldritt as captain. This decision comes after Alldritt was omitted from the matchday squad during the disappointing 32-17 defeat to South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series opener. Alldritt, who has been a formidable presence since his test debut in 2019, steps up as captain in the absence of regular skipper Antoine Dupont, who is sidelined due to a severe knee injury.
Reflecting on Alldritt’s leadership, Galthie remarked, “For six years, Greg held the fort,” emphasizing his importance to the team. The coach noted that the rotation of the squad was intentional and part of a broader strategy to manage player workloads, particularly after a challenging few months. Alldritt’s return is partly facilitated by an injury to Mickael Guillard, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Springboks.
Galthie acknowledged the criticism his squad faced following the South Africa match and mentioned that the team was underprepared, having only had two weeks of training together compared to the well-established South African side. He pointed out that since their last match in March, the French team had limited training sessions, which impacted their performance.
In addition to Alldritt’s return, Galthie has made five other changes to the starting lineup for Saturday’s clash in Bordeaux. Nicolas Depoortere comes in for Gael Fickou, who will not be part of the matchday squad, while Maxime Lucu replaces Nolann Le Garrec at scrum-half. The flanker Oscar Jegou has been selected over Paul Boudehent, and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros replaces Baptiste Erdocio.
Looking ahead, Galthie reiterated the team’s long-term vision, stating, “We have a two-year vision towards the World Cup in 2027 and the two Six Nations tournaments.” His strategy aims to cultivate a deeper squad, providing valuable experience and versatility across key positions. This proactive approach reflects a commitment to developing a robust team capable of competing at the highest level.
As the French team prepares for the upcoming match against Fiji, there is hope that the return of experienced players like Alldritt will reinvigorate the squad and lead to an improved performance on the field.