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French Top 14

Top 14: Picking A Form French XV For The Upcoming International Season

Top 14: Picking A Form French XV For The Upcoming International Season

Fabien Galthié will soon select his French side for the World Cup, but what if the decision were not down to him and rather based on form in the Top 14.

May 16, 2023
Top 14: Picking A Form French XV For The Upcoming International Season

France are no doubt one of the favourites heading into their home World Cup. With such expectation comes plenty of pressure, falling heavily on the shoulders of head coach Fabien Galthié who is tasked with selecting the team best suited to winning the whole tournament.

We already have a rough idea of what that team may look like, but what if it were not down to Galthié and his coaching chums. What if the French team was picked on current form in the Top 14.

To explore this further, FloRugby has pulled together a starting XV based entirely around this premise.

1. Reda Wardi

La Rochelle have established themselves as one of the most physically dominant teams in Europe, and much of that is down to their pack. Reda Wardi is a pivotal piece in this and has stabilised the reigning European Champion’s scrum, harmonising technique with sheer strength.


   

2. Julien Marchand

There is a new breed of hooker developing. One that is more dynamic, agile and attack-oriented than ever before. Of all these new titans, Julien Marchand is the anomaly for not only being a mammoth of a man but also an expert offloader who could just as easily play in the centres as he could in the front row.


3. Uini Atonio

You don’t get 50 international caps without having a bit about you, and there’s plenty about Uini Atonio to get excited about. The La Rochelle prop is one of the biggest bodies in the game and remains one of the toughest players to tackle, making him an essential piece in any team.


4. Romain Taofifénua

Romain Taofifénua is the bedrock of the Lyon pack, and not just because he weighs around 135kg. The hulking second row is a hugely reliable player who shows up every matchday weekend and delivers. He’s a useful piece in the lineout and an almost unstoppable force when running into contact.


5. Emmanuel Meafou

One man who can match Taofifénua for size is Emmanuel Meafou. The Toulouse second row cuts an enormous figure and puts this to good use, scoring seven tries in the league, making him the most prolific try-scoring forward this campaign. He’s still waiting to become eligible for France, but once that pulls through, there’s little doubt a call-up will be arriving in the post.


6. Sekou Macalou 

The revival of Stade Francais this season has much to do with the exploits of their versatile back rower Sekou Macalou, who has rallied the side to within touching distance of the playoffs. He’s scored six tries this season for the Parisians and remains a mainstay of the French squad.


7. Charles Ollivon 

Work rate is a bit of a buzzword in rugby circles, often attributed to players with a good engine that find themselves lacking in other departments. However, Charles Ollivon has a work rate and then some, churning through duties for Toulon at an accelerated pace, hitting the breakdown with breathless frequency.


8. Grégory Alldritt

Few players are truly great leaders, but Grégory Alldritt is part of that elite category. The La Rochelle captain is entirely dependable and leads his side by example, carrying relentlessly into contact while also being a menace at the breakdown. Not only that, his dexterity in possession and complete understanding of the game sets him far above many of his contemporaries.


9. Antoine Dupont

Of all the positions in this team, this was the easiest to fill. No one comes close to challenging Antoine Dupont. No nine has his passing range, his physicality, his fearlessness, his agility or his vision. He often does things which defy logic and possesses a highlights reel better than any other. Only two weeks ago, he beat six Bordeaux defenders on his way to scoring under the sticks.


10. Camille Lopez 

A year is a long time in professional sport. Back in the summer of 2022, the career trajectory of Camille Lopez appeared to be taking a downward turn, with the former French fly-half bound for the newly promoted Bayonne. Flash forward almost a year, and the boys in blue and white are seventh in the Top 14, carried in large part by their majestic ten. Lopez has still got it.


11. Ethan Dumortier

It’s been quite the breakthrough year for Ethan Dumortier. The 22-year-old winger has made a name for himself as an expert finisher, scoring ten league tries so far this season, which earnt him a first cap with the French national team. The Lyon back went on to feature heavily in the Six Nations for France and clearly has a bright future ahead of him.


12. Yoram Moefana

Rising stars are the commodity of the moment for Bordeaux Begles, and perhaps their most prized asset in that department is Yoram Moefana. The 22-year-old centre is a multifaceted player, balancing physical brawn with impeccable game awareness, which has pushed him into the national set up where he will likely remain for years to come.


13. Émilien Gailleton

Émilien Gailleton’s try-scoring record speaks for itself. At present, he tops the league charts with an impressive 13 tries scored and has done all this while playing for an under-par Pau side who are in the midst of a relegation battle. He has an air of Conrad Smith about the way he plays and is already on the radar of Fabien Galthié.


14. Damian Penaud

It may seem a formulaic pick, but in truth, there are few wingers who come close to lacing Damian Penaud’s boots. He was unplayable in the Six Nations and remains a menace in the Top 14, turning defenders into butter without much of a sweat. He’s scored six tries for Clermont this term and remains their primary source of inspiration in attack.


15. Thomas Ramos

Had this list been made twelve months ago, Melvyn Jaminet would be wearing the fifteen jersey. And yet his teammate Thomas Ramos has now displaced him, not only at Toulouse but also in the French team. Ramos offers the same kicking pedigree as Jaminet but possesses a far greater calibre of footballing skills and is a sturdier runner with the ball tucked under his arm.


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