France expects overwhelming performance

Rugby World Cup hosts France’s coach Fabien Galthié is not taking any risks with tonight’s match against Namibia, making 12 changes to the side that struggled to get the better of a spirited Uruguay last Thursday.

Galthie has selected a powerful 23 for this match, including loosehead prop Cyril Baille and inside centre Jonathan Danty who are both eager for game time on their return from injury, and Antoine Dupont, who has yet to lose a match at home since taking over as captain.

Only lock Cameron Woki, left wing Louis Bielle Biarry and nr. 8 Anthony Jelonch retain their spots in the starting line-up from Lille – and the latter would have moved to the flank but for a slight injury concern over Grégory Alldritt.

Namibia, meanwhile, have conceded 123 points and 18 tries in their two matches to date at Rugby World Cup 2023, managing only one try and 11 points of their own in reply.

KEY TALKING POINT

Les Bleus’ squad for this match. Squad rotation is very much the name of the game here, but Galthié and France expected a convincing, bonus-point win over Uruguay in Lille. What unfolded was not convincing, nor did it come with a try-scoring bonus.

That means, although France still hold their Rugby World Cup destiny in their hands, suddenly there’s no room for error in their final two matches, here against Namibia, or against Italy in Lyon on 6 October.

All of which, in turn, explain that France squad. They could do with points, and they have a good-sized break ahead of their next match.

PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD

Gaël Fickou v Johan Deysel. Two experienced, no-backward-step centres go head to head in the middle of the pitch in Marseille.

AT THE MEDIA CONFERENCE

Adriaan Ludik, Namibia lock, on the prospect of facing the French forwards: “I’m really excited for that because that’s how you measure yourself. I’m an enforcer, they have enforcers, so we’ll see on Thursday night who wins the battle.”

Jacques Theron, scrum-half, on going up against Antoine Dupont: “It’s my first start for Namibia so I’m massively excited to show what I can do and what’s in me. Playing against Dupont, one of the world’s biggest rugby names right now, is going to be a lot of fun and I know I can learn a lot from him, so I’m very excited for the challenge.

“If I can take one thing from him, or have a one-on-one session where he could teach me something, it would probably be his vision. He’s got excellent vision playing the game. As a scrum-half that’s one of the most important parts you need, so if by any chance he can give me some of that, that would be awesome.”

FIXTURE: France v Namibia

GROUND: Stade de Marseille (capacity 67,847)

KICK-OFF: 21:00.

REFEREE: Matthew Carley (England). This is Carley’s second match as a Rugby World Cup referee. His first match was the epic encounter in Bordeaux on the first weekend of the tournament (Wales 32-26 Fiji).