In a strategic reshuffle, France's head coach Fabian Galthie has introduced significant changes to his team lineup for the upcoming clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane. Following a narrow defeat to the All Blacks, the French squad is invigorated by the inclusion of Top 14 finalists, setting the stage for a compelling match at Suncorp Stadium. A key tactical move is Matthieu Jalibert's shift from fly-half to full-back, making room for Romain Ntamack's return, marking the first instance the duo starts together for Les Bleus. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt anticipates this combination will pose a considerable challenge for his team.
The French lineup sees Théo Attissogbe and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, a former France 7s standout and a newcomer from Pau, taking positions on the wings. Despite the injury to captain Antoine Dupont, Galthie’s selection reflects confidence, retaining the solid midfield partnership of Yoram Moefana and Fabien Brau-Boirie. Scrum-half Maxime Lucu will lead the team, pairing up with Ntamack in the half-backs.
The pack undergoes several adjustments, notably with Brisbane-born Moses Alo-Emile making his test debut at loosehead prop. He joins the experienced Peato Mauvaka and Demba Bamba in the front row. The lock positions are manned by Florian Verhaeghe and Emmanuel Meafou, with last week’s starters Hugo Auradou and Tom Staniforth now on the bench, which features a 6-2 split favoring forward replacements.
"Both of them on the pitch at the same time is a headache for us, so I could drop Fabian a message and say, ‘Look, just one at a time would be good.’"
Joe Schmidt further elaborated on the French half-backs, "Their ability in terms of short, long kicking game, to play to the, they are both quick and have great footwork. They are a challenge for us. It’s a big ask for Declan to mark up against one of those guys. And Hastoy has been unbelievably good for La Rochelle."
As the teams prepare for the showdown on July 11, 2026, the strategic interplays and individual performances are set to define this encounter. The match promises not only a test of tactical acumen but also an exhibition of some of the finest talents in international rugby today.
France team: Matthieu Jalibert, Théo Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Yoram Moefana, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Romain Ntamack, Maxime Lucu (c), Marko Gazzotti, Oscar Jégou, Lenni Nouchi, Emmanuel Meafou, Florian Verhaeghe, Demba Bamba, Peato Mauvaka, Moses Alo-Emile. Replacements: Maxime Lamothe, Jefferson Poirot, Tevita Tatafu, Hugo Auradou, Tom Staniforth, Killian Tixeront, Nolann Le Garrec, Kalvin Gourgues.