France is keeping the same 31-man squad for the whole tournament in an eight-week bubble that will be broken only for injuries. It means injured star backs Romain Ntamack and Virimi Vakatawa are on the outer. “We’re all conscious of how lucky we are to be together.”As for the game itself in an empty Stadio Olimpico, a French team shorn of two of its standout backs should still be far too strong for Italy. In place of Ntamack and Vakatawa will be 22-year-old Matthieu Jalibert at flyhalf and 21-year-old Arthur Vincent at centre. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...France: Brice Dulin, Teddy Thomas, Arthur Vincent, Gael Fickou, Gabin Villiere, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon (captain), Dylan Cretin, Paul Willemse, Bernard Le Roux, Mohamed Haouas, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille.

Source: thestar February 04, 2021 23:03 UTC