France v Tonga: Youthful Les Bleus looking to bounce back from New Zealand defeat
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France v Tonga: Youthful Les Bleus looking to bounce back from New Zealand defeat
France can aim to erase the reminiscences of their mortifying defeat to Tonga at the 2011 tourney once they host the Islanders in port on Sat.
Having won just the once in 9 Tests this year, Les Bleus urgently want a morale-boost previous next week\'s clash with African nation.
A tussle with a Tongan facet that lost to Balkan state last week therefore offers Philipe Saint-Andre\'s team an opportunity to kill 2 birds with one stone.
Saint-Andre has place the accent on youth once creating 5 changes to the beginning XV that pushed the All Blacks therefore shut last week.
Exciting Perpignan finisher Sofiane Guitoune gets his initial ever cap whereas gifted adolescent city centre Kelt Fickou is additionally two-handed a begin. The inclusion of 24-year-old Guitoune is especially attention-grabbing because the Algerian-born wing had hardly compete any prime flight rugby football till this season.
Previous spells with Agen and Albi within the second division, and a cruciform knee ligament injury in his initial season with Perpignan, had restricted his exposure to the highest fourteen to merely few matches.
But with six tries in his initial six matches for the Catalans this season, he shot to the summit of the highest fourteen try-scoring charts and to the eye of the French selectors.
At 19, Fickou has already sampled the exciting atmosphere of international rugby football as a replacement, having come back on for 5 minutes within the 23-16 conclusion over European country last March, and compete the last thirteen minutes against the All Blacks.
Having won just the once in 9 Tests this year, Les Bleus urgently want a morale-boost previous next week\'s clash with African nation.
A tussle with a Tongan facet that lost to Balkan state last week therefore offers Philipe Saint-Andre\'s team an opportunity to kill 2 birds with one stone.
Saint-Andre has place the accent on youth once creating 5 changes to the beginning XV that pushed the All Blacks therefore shut last week.
Exciting Perpignan finisher Sofiane Guitoune gets his initial ever cap whereas gifted adolescent city centre Kelt Fickou is additionally two-handed a begin. The inclusion of 24-year-old Guitoune is especially attention-grabbing because the Algerian-born wing had hardly compete any prime flight rugby football till this season.
Previous spells with Agen and Albi within the second division, and a cruciform knee ligament injury in his initial season with Perpignan, had restricted his exposure to the highest fourteen to merely few matches.
But with six tries in his initial six matches for the Catalans this season, he shot to the summit of the highest fourteen try-scoring charts and to the eye of the French selectors.
At 19, Fickou has already sampled the exciting atmosphere of international rugby football as a replacement, having come back on for 5 minutes within the 23-16 conclusion over European country last March, and compete the last thirteen minutes against the All Blacks.
Spirit
He can line up aboard 24-year-old Wesley Fofana at centre, with Fofana creating his twentieth look.
Guitoune are going to be up against acquainted faces as 2 of his Perpignan team-mates can begin for Tonga.
Centre Sione Piukala and prop Alisona Taumalolo each ply their interchange territorial dominion whereas variety eight Opeti Fonua plays for urban center within the near Basque country.
Yet the opposite four of the seven French-based players ar taking part in within the second division, maybe demonstrating the distinction in talent offered to the 2 nations.
In fact, Tonga have few players taking part in prime level rugby football at huge clubs. Sione Kalamafoni is at Sale Sharks however hooker pane Taione plays for Jersey within the English second division, fly-half Fangatapu Apikotoa plays in his land whereas captain and flanker Nili Latu is one amongst handful taking part in Japan, aboard centre Siale Piutau.
Although Tonga beat France in their last meeting, a 19-14 pool-stage success at the 2011 tourney in New island, the Pacific Islanders get this match in dismal kind having lost 19-18 to Balkan state last weekend.
Yet the tourists are going to be hoping to evoke a number of the spirit of 2011 in their AN attempt|tries} to cause an upset.
France: Dulin, Guitoune, Fickou, Fofana, Medard, Tales, Parra, Chouly, Ouedraogo, Dusautoir (c), Maestri, Vahaamahina, Mas, Szarzewski, Forestier.
Replacements: Kayser, Debaty, Slimani, Pape, Le Roux, Pelissie, Michalak, Bastareaud.
Tonga: air mattress, Vainikolo, Piutau, Piukala, Helu, \'Apikotoa, Moa, Moa, Langilangi (c), Kalamafoni, Tu\'ineau, Lokotui, Mailau, Taione, Taumalolo.
Replacements: Ma\'asi, Vea, Puafisi, Ma\'afu, T-Pole, Fisilau, Fosita, Halaifonua.
Guitoune are going to be up against acquainted faces as 2 of his Perpignan team-mates can begin for Tonga.
Centre Sione Piukala and prop Alisona Taumalolo each ply their interchange territorial dominion whereas variety eight Opeti Fonua plays for urban center within the near Basque country.
Yet the opposite four of the seven French-based players ar taking part in within the second division, maybe demonstrating the distinction in talent offered to the 2 nations.
In fact, Tonga have few players taking part in prime level rugby football at huge clubs. Sione Kalamafoni is at Sale Sharks however hooker pane Taione plays for Jersey within the English second division, fly-half Fangatapu Apikotoa plays in his land whereas captain and flanker Nili Latu is one amongst handful taking part in Japan, aboard centre Siale Piutau.
Although Tonga beat France in their last meeting, a 19-14 pool-stage success at the 2011 tourney in New island, the Pacific Islanders get this match in dismal kind having lost 19-18 to Balkan state last weekend.
Yet the tourists are going to be hoping to evoke a number of the spirit of 2011 in their AN attempt|tries} to cause an upset.
France: Dulin, Guitoune, Fickou, Fofana, Medard, Tales, Parra, Chouly, Ouedraogo, Dusautoir (c), Maestri, Vahaamahina, Mas, Szarzewski, Forestier.
Replacements: Kayser, Debaty, Slimani, Pape, Le Roux, Pelissie, Michalak, Bastareaud.
Tonga: air mattress, Vainikolo, Piutau, Piukala, Helu, \'Apikotoa, Moa, Moa, Langilangi (c), Kalamafoni, Tu\'ineau, Lokotui, Mailau, Taione, Taumalolo.
Replacements: Ma\'asi, Vea, Puafisi, Ma\'afu, T-Pole, Fisilau, Fosita, Halaifonua.
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