Alldritt 'takes up the torch' for France against Fiji after South Africa loss / Photo: Glyn KIRK - AFP/File
Alldritt 'takes up the torch' for France against Fiji after South Africa loss
France head coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday recalled Gregory Alldritt to "take up the torch" as captain this weekend against Fiji having dropped him for the humbling defeat to South Africa.
No.8 Alldritt, 28, was a travelling reserve for last weekend's 32-17 loss to South Africa in Les Bleus' Autumn Nations Series opener.
Alldritt, who made his Test debut in 2019, benefits from an injury to Mickael Guillard, who suffered a shoulder issue against the Springboks.
"For six years, Greg held the fort," Galthie told reporters about Aldritt, who led the side to the Six Nations title in March.
"He's a player who needs to recharge.
"As such, he's on the team sheet as captain, but with our idea of rotation, I think it's coherent... and comes back to take up the torch," said the ex-France captain.
Galthie and his side were widely criticised for last Saturday's performance and result against the world champions.
The former scrum-half said that his team were undercooked for the game, having had just two weeks together, compared to the Boks who had been together for months having recently won the Rugby Championship for the second time running.
France's last game with their first-choice side was in March, having been forced to send a second-string outfit on tour to New Zealand in July, due to an agreement between the French Rugby Federation and the professional clubs limiting players' workload.
"You have to firstly be conscious that since our last game, eight months ago, we've had five training sessions," Galthie said.
"In the match, there were moments we were satisfied and moments we were disappointed," he added.
- 'Two-year vision' -
La Rochelle back-rower Alldritt is one of six changes for the game against the Pacific Islanders in Bordeaux on Saturday.
Alldritt replaces Gael Fickou, who drops out of the matchday squad, as skipper and stand-in for regular captain Antoine Dupont, who has been out with a serious knee injury since March.
Nicolas Depoortere replaces Fickou, Maxime Lucu comes in for Nolann Le Garrec at scrum-half, flanker Oscar Jegou has been picked ahead of Paul Boudehent and prop Jean-Baptiste Gros takes over from Baptiste Erdocio.
"We have a two-year vision towards the World Cup (in 2027) and the two Six Nations tournaments," Galthie said.
"We understand that we had to develop the squad, give experience to players, to have three players in each position.
"The changes were planned even before South Africa.
"Our vision is to develop an enlarged squad," he added.
France (15-1)
Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Nicolas Depoortere, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Maxime Lucu; Gregory Alldritt (capt), Anthony Jelonch, Oscar Jegou, Emmanuel Meafou, Charles Ollivon; Regis Montagne, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: Maxime Lamothe, Rodrigue Neti, Thomas Laclayat, Romain Taofifenua, Hugo Auradou, Paul Boudehent, Nolann Le Garrec, Emilien Gailleton
P.Ortiz--RTC
