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France name five uncapped players for Wales clash

Paul Willemse celebrates a try for France against Wales in February

France name five uncapped players for Wales clash

France head coach Fabien Galthie has named five uncapped players in his 31-man squad to face Wales in Paris on October 24.

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Galthie’s men will host Wayne Pivac’s side as both teams warm-up for their final rescheduled matches of the 2020 Six Nations and the new Autumn Nations Cup.

The two sides last met on February 22. Les Bleus were 27-23 winners at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium with Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack playing a starring role.

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Ntamack’s 17-point haul included a try while full-back Anthony Bouthier and second row Paul Willemse also crossed.

Wales responded with 18 points from fly-half Dan Biggar including a late try.

Prop Dillon Lewis also crossed for his first international score.

Many of the men Wales faced at the start of the year have been named again by Galthie.

But prop Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel and centre Olivier Klemenczak have both been selected for the first time after their club side Racing 92 reached the European Champions Cup final.

Tighthead Colombe Reazel, 22, is a promising talent and Galthie said: “He’s a young player who is discovering our environment.

“He’s totally the type of player we want. He has proved his worth since the start of the season.”

Klemenczak, 24, has impressed at centre for a Racing side who will face Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup final at Bristol’s Ashton Gate on October 17.

“He’s been consistently good. The general performance of his team-mates has helped. He’s been playing a lot,” Galthie said of the centre.

France are again captained by Toulon back-row ace Charles Ollivon while Lyon lock Killian Geraci, Toulouse No 8 Selevasio Tolofua and La Rochelle winger Arthur Retiere are all new faces too.

Retiere replaces ASM Clermont Auvergne winger Damian Penaud whose bad luck with injury has continued.

He is currently out with an ankle problem.

France squad

Forwards: Cyril Baille (Toulouse) Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Demba Bamba (Lyon), Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel (Racing 92), Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92), Paul Willemse (Montpellier), Killian Geraci (Lyon), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Charles Ollivon (Toulon – captain), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux-Begles), Dylan Cretin (Lyon), Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Selevasio Tolofua (Toulouse)

Backs: Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Toulon), Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92), Arthur Vincent (Montpellier), Gael Fickou (Stade Francais), Olivier Klemenczak (Racing 92), Vincent Rattez (Montpellier), Arthur Retiere (La Rochelle), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)

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