France squad selections for New Zealand clash
Fabien Galthié has revealed the France squad for their initial Nations Championship match against New Zealand. The team features several notable inclusions, including the return of Damian Penaud and the debut of Tom Staniforth.
Max Spring, a 25-year-old full-back, is set to make a rare appearance, his first since 2022. His previous international outings included an uncapped match against the Barbarians and a Test against Japan. Spring’s recent performances for Racing 92 have earned him this opportunity. Penaud, a highly experienced player, will join Spring in the back three, returning after being absent from the recent Six Nations campaign. Théo Attissogbé will maintain his position on the left wing.
The midfield will see the combination of Yoram Moefana and Fabien Brau-Boirie. The half-back pairing of Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu from Bordeaux-Begles are expected to leverage their club chemistry at the international level. Lucu will also captain the side.
In the forward pack, a youthful back-row comprises Pierre Bochaton, Oscar Jégou, and Marko Gazzotti. Australia-born lock Staniforth, aged 31, is scheduled to make his debut after his performance against England A in June. He will be partnered in the second-row by Hugo Auradou. The front-row consists of Demba Bamba, Maxime Lamothe, and Jefferson Poirot, who is ending a six-year international absence.
The bench includes several new faces, with young hooker Barnabé Massa set to debut. He will be supported by Reda Wardi and Régis Montagne at the front of the scrum. Mickaël Guillard returns to the squad to provide impact in the second-row, and Killian Tixeront also makes a comeback to the national team. The backline replacements include Nolan Le Garrec, Antoine Hastoy, and Nicolas Depoortere.
All Blacks coach comments on French play style
All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga has noted the significant evolution of the game in France since his time as a player and player-coach there. He credits Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthié for transforming the team back into a global rugby power.
Umaga highlighted France’s performance in the recent Six Nations tournament, where they scored an average of over 42 points per game and secured bonus points for tries in four of their five victories. He also observed the strong attacking play of Bordeaux in their successful Champions Cup campaign, suggesting that Galthié’s team will be challenging to contain.
Umaga described France as an “exciting team to watch,” noting their return to a distinctive “French flair.” He explained that they aim to attack from all areas of the field and consistently seek opportunities to score. The coach emphasised that the French team’s strategy involves keeping the ball alive to create space.
Reflecting on his own playing days in France, Umaga recalled a more combative and kicking-focused style of rugby. He believes that Galthié has influenced the development of young players through systems that encourage looking for opportunities and maintaining ball possession. Umaga stated that France has returned to its “identity of old,” which makes them a consistent and challenging opponent, and a good test for the All Blacks.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 4 July, 2026, at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, with a kick-off time of 19:10 local.
Source: planetrugby.com
