XV France: Doulin and Serine are in the list of 42 for the preparation for the Rugby World Cup, not Meafu

They should be among the lucky ones to start preparing the XV training camp of France for the World Cup (September 8-October 28). Toulon scrum midfielder Baptiste Serine and La Rochelle defender Brice Doulain are part of the roster of 42 players unveiled on Wednesday by Les Bleus coach Fabien Galtier for the first training camp in Monaco starting July 2, according to our information. Stage of the summer, which should lead the French to this home world championship.

Two men have not appeared on the lawn in France jerseys since their 23-27 home defeat at the Six Nations against Scotland in 2021. Baptiste Serin, who had been kept away for a long time, found the group during the last tournament.

In choosing them, the Blues headquarters opt for two uniformed men by the end of the season. If Baptiste Serin was injured in the Challenge Cup final against Toulon, the 42-cap scrum midfielder, who turns 29 on Tuesday, has impressed with recent performances for RCT and will be one of four specialists in his position along with Dupont, Lucu and Cuyo. Undisputed La Rochelle Cup winner Bryce Doolin (33, 36 games) will be one of three defenders on this preliminary list, along with Thomas Ramos and Melvin Giaminé.

Guyleton should be there, Vincent too.

Another certainty: Emmanuel Miafu will not be part of this first roster of 42 players, which is likely to change during preparation. The massive second row is suffering from a plantar aponeurosis injury sustained in Saturday’s Top 14 final with Toulouse against Rochelle and is unable to begin intensive training (at least six weeks away). In addition, the Australian does not yet have a French passport and his eligibility to compete in the World Cup with France has not yet been decided by the World Rugby international federation.

If he’s not there, Top 14 top scorer with Poe Emilien Guyleton should be there. If he currently has a zero selection, his performances in the Pau section at the age of only 19 have allowed him to score many points against the French decision makers. Like him, who has been exempted from the U20 World Cup, Bordeaux defender or winger Louis Biel-Biarre is likely to be. He is currently holding the rope against Toulouse striker Matthias Lebel.

Still three quarters, note the presence of Arthur Vincent. The Montpellier three-quarter center comes out of two near-white seasons and only played two games in that drill before getting injured again. But the 23-year-old is highly trusted by staff who have already called him to assess his condition during his first training camp in June.

This list of 42 does not contain any major surprises. The staff would have preferred to occupy the seven pillars, a line where Sipili Falatea, injured by Bordeaux-Beggle in the Top 14 semi-final, is still missing. Another injury so far absent: Toulouse third line Anthony Jelonch, kicked to the knee in late February against Scotland during the Six Nations Tournament. But his recovery is on the right track, and there’s nothing stopping him from joining the list along the way.

The roster will be reduced to 33 players on August 21st for the World Cup, which kicks off against the All Blacks at the Stade de France (September 8th).