PREVIEW: Evolving France faces Eddie Jones’ struggling Japan in the November internationals on Saturday with superstar Antoine Dupont making his first 15-a-side appearance for the hosts in more than a year.
Scrumhalf Dupont helped France to an Olympic Sevens gold medal as well as club side Toulouse to a Top 14 and Champions Cup double during his absence from the Test arena following last year’s World Cup exit.
Japan coach Jones believes the 27-year-old has improved since his time in sevens.
“He’s an outstanding player,” Jones told a pre-match media briefing.
“He keeps adding to his game all the time.
“He’s a constant threat.
“We respect him as a player but we have to make sure we keep him in close space and that’s what we’ve practiced.”
Partnering Dupont at halfback this weekend at the Stade de France, where France won the Olympic title and lost to South Africa in the World Cup quarterfinals, will be club teammate Thomas Ramos, usually a fullback.
Coach Fabien Galthie has kept faith with Ramos over in-form Bordeaux-Begles flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert.
“Firstly it is about their talent, the potential, and their quality,” Galthie said.
“But one of the key factors is their collective experience. But of course, Matthieu is important to us.”
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The 2027 vision
For their first game since this mid-year’s scandal-hit tour of South America, Galthie has made some bold decisions.
He has dropped centre and defensive leader Gael Fickou to the bench for the first time since 2019.
Galthie’s first captain when he took charge four years ago, Charles Ollivon, has to accept a role as a travelling reserve.
“Even if they’re not on the team sheet, or just among the replacements, we count on them,” Galthie said.
“We need their experience as we travel on our vision for the next three years,” he added, looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Jones has made six changes to his side from the 64-19 drubbing by New Zealand two weeks ago.
Naoto Saito starts at scrum-half, facing his Toulouse teammates Dupont and Ramos.
“What you see a lot with Japan players who go overseas is they develop a lot more initiative,” Jones said.
“They’re more likely to bring forward an idea or adaptation to a game and talk to the players and coaches about that.
“That’s what we’re seeing with Naoto.”
Jones has returned to the Brave Blossoms after being sacked by Australia last year.
The highlight of his first stint in charge of Japan was a historic 2015 World Cup win over South Africa.
Japan have lost five of their eight games so far in his second spell, conceding an average of 37 points per game, including heavy defeats by the All Blacks, England and Italy.
“We want to play a game that takes a lot of courage,” Jones said.
“For Japan to beat top teams in the world we can’t play orthodox rugby, we have to play differently.”
Players to watch
For France: Antoine Dupont is back in a much changed French side. The Japanese game marks the first return to the Stade de France for the French since last year’s World Cup quarterfinal elimination to South Africa. Dupont spent this year helping France to win Sevens gold at the Olympics and now returns, as do wing Damian Penaud and fullback Thomas Ramos. Up front lock, Thibaud Flament and No.8 Gregory Alldritt are back in the mix.
For Japan: Eddie Jones has made six changes. Among the backs are Toulouse scrumhalf Naoto Saito, centre Siosaia Fifita and wing Tomoki Osada. In the forwards – loose forward Kanji Shimokawa, lock Epineri Uluiviti and hooker Mamoru Harada come in. Bordeaux-Begles No.8 Tevita Tatafu is named on the bench as experienced flyhalf Harumichi Tatekawa continues to wear the captain’s armband. Midfielder Fifita makes first Test appearance since last year’s World Cup having recovered from a leg injury.
Head to head
Prediction
@rugby365com: France by 18 points
Teams
France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 12 Yoram Morgana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Grégory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Mickaël Guillard, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Matthieu Jalibert, 23 Gaël Fickou.
Japan: 15 Malo Tuitama, 14 Jone Nakiabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Siosaia Fifita, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (captain), 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faula Makisi, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Kanji Shimokawa, 5 Warner Deans, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takato Okabe.
Replacements: 16 Kenta Masuoka, 17 Yukio Morikawa, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Amato Fakatava, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Yusuke Kajimura, 23 Takuro Matsunaga.
Date: Saturday, November 9
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21.10 (20.10 GMT; 07.10 Sunday, November 10 Japan time)
Expected weather: Sunny to partly cloudy. Temperature will be 10°C by kick-off
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
