France Hand Debut To Teenage Sensation For Six Nations Clash With Ireland
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New kid on the block.
France have named 19-year-old sensation Matthieu Jalibert in their team to face Ireland on Saturday in the opening round of the 2018 Six Nations.
The 19-year-old Jalibert will make his international debut at the Stade de France, just three months after starting his first Top 14 match with Bordeaux-Begles. He has been paired with the in-form Maxime Machenaud at halfback after Morgan Parra was ruled out injured.
Another uncapped player, fullback Geoffrey Palis, will also start as new head coach Jacques Brunel will be looking to restore France’s confidence for his first game in charge.
🔴 Les Bleus sont #PrêtsAuCombat ! Découvrez la composition de l’équipe désignée par le sélectionneur Jacques Brunel et son staff pour affronter l’Irlande samedi au @StadeFrance ! #soutiensleXV #FRAIRL pic.twitter.com/vazmm3GdTm
— FF Rugby (@FFRugby) February 1, 2018
Elsewhere Guilhem Guirado will captain the side from the front-row with Jefferson Poirot and scrummaging machine Rabah Slimani either side oF him. Clermont duo Sébastien Vahaamahina and Arthur Iturria will partner in the second-row.
Yacouba Camara, Kevin Gourdon and Wenceslas Lauret make up an interesting back-row, while in the centres, Henry Chavancy will partner Remi Lamerat with Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa and Geoffrey Palis rounding out the back three.