Victor Matfield backs France as Springboks' greatest rivals for 2027 Rugby World Cup title
Legendary Springbok lock Victor Matfield believes France poses the biggest threat to South Africa's ambition to win three Rugby World Cups in a row.
Fabien Galthie makes midfield changes as France name team to face Wales
Galthie has opted for a brand-new centre pairing, with Emilien Gailleton and Fabien Brau-Boirie replacing the injured Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere.
The Pau duo are also among five changes to the wider 23-man squad for their trip to the Principality Stadium on Sunday, with Maxime Lamothe, Thibaud Flament and Noah Nene coming onto the bench.
As a result, Brau-Boirie will win his first senior cap for Les Bleus, while Nene could also make his maiden Test appearance should he come on.
With the changes to the starting XV both coming in midfield, that leaves Galthie with a steady backline combination after their 36-14 win over Ireland in round one. Thomas Ramos continues at full-back, with Théo Attissogbe and two-try hero Louis Bielle-Biarrey named in the back-three, while Matthieu Jalibert and Antoine Dupont continue their flourishing partnership in the halves.
Up front, Galthie has also named an unchanged pack. Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou and François Cros again form a tasty back-row, with last week’s Player of the Match Mickaël Guillard joining Charles Ollivon in the locks. Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand and Jean-Baptiste Gros again feature in the front-row.
Lamothe, Flament and Nene also join Rodrigue Neti, Regis Montagne, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi and Baptiste Serin on a 6:2 bench.
France - 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Théo Attissogbe, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 12 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 François Cros, 5 Mickaël Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Noah Nene
Eddie Jones points out worrying lineout trend after France demolish Ireland
Eddie Jones believes World Rugby needs to step in and properly police the lineouts, or they will stop becoming a contest.
Italy captain Michele Lamaro basking in the glory of famous victory over Scotland
Italian Rugby celebrated a rare victory over Six Nations rivals Scotland, hanging on for a memorable 18-15 win on Saturday.
Italy hold firm to stun Scotland in Six Nations opener in Rome
Italy held onto an early lead to beat Scotland 18-15 in their Six Nations opener in Rome on Saturday.