Six Nations: Romain N'tamack Handed Starting Test Debut Against Wales

Six Nations: Romain N'tamack Handed Starting Test Debut Against Wales

France head coach Jacques Brunel has thrown a selection curve ball at Warren Gatland's Wales for their opening Six Nations clash this weekend. 19-year-old Romain N'tamack has been handed the starting no.12 jersey for the first game of the competition. 

The move sees France vice-captain Mathieu Bastareaud miss out of the 23 altogether with Wesley Fofana joining N'tamack in the midfield. 

This is the second year in the row that France has started a 19-year-old a starting debut in the first game of the year with Matthieu Jalibert starting the opening game of the 2018 Six Nations against Ireland last year.

Elsewhere, former Springbok u20 Paul Willemse makes his test debut in the starting line up alongside Sebastien Vahaamahina. Guilhem Guirado captains the side from the front row and is joined by Jefferson Poirot at loosehead and Unini Atonio at tighthead. 

Wenceslas Lauret, Arthur Iturria and Louis Picamoles make up the back row while Clermont duo Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez start in the halfback roles.


Yoann Huget, Damian Penaud and Maxime Medard complete the starting XV. There is another potential debut on the bench in Gregory Alldritt while Baptiste Serin will cover both flyhalf and scrumhalf making space for centre Doumayrou.



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