Team Announcement: Gregory Alldritt starts, Damian Penaud returns

February 04, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

France head coach Fabien Galthie has confirmed his team that will face Italy in the Six Nations opener on Saturday February 6.

The runners up from the 2020 Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup have been boosted by return of star winger Damian Penaud who finds a place amongst the substitutes.

In the pack, Gregory Alldritt has been declared fit to feature in the opener after he arrived in camp later than his teammates having undergone keyhole surgery. He starts in the #8 jersey with captain Charles Ollivon at openside and Dylan Cretin at blindside.

Bernard Le Roux and Paul Willemse will look to pick up from where they left off last time in the Six Nations as they start in the second row behind the likes of Cyrill Baille, Julien Marchand and Mohamed Haouas.

Antoine Dupont's regular starting partner Romain Ntamack is ruled out of the clash due to injury with Bordeaux's Mathieu Jalibert starting in the #10 jersey instead. Gabin Villiere and Brice Dulin are rewarded for their form in the Autumn Nations Cup and starting on the left wing and fullback positions respectively. Teddy Thomas completes the back three in the #14 jersey.

With Virimi Vakatawa injured, Gael Fickou and Arthur Vincent start in the midfield.

Camille Chat's absence sees Pierre Bourgarit claim the back up hooker position with Jean-Baptiste Gros and Dorian Aldegheri proving further front row cover on the bench. Romain Taofifenua covers the second row with Castres' Anthony Jelonch covering the back row. Toulon's Baptiste Serin and Louis Carbonel complete the bench with Penaud.