France kick-off their Six Nations Championship campaign at home to Ireland on February 3 with some exciting new talent amongst their squad.
Newly-appointed head coach Jacques Brunel has called up six uncapped players, including Bordeaux Begles’ promising fly-half Matthieu Jalibert.
Brunel, who replaced Guy Noves last month, coached the 19-year-old at Bordeaux and is well aware of his superb attacking ability.
Dany Priso, Felix Lambey, Cedate Gomes Sa, Geoffrey Palis and Marco Tauleigne are the other new names in Brunel’s squad.
France are priced at 6/4 to win the game, with Ireland available at 4/7. The draw is on offer at 20/1.
Over half of the players France have named for the Ireland game are under the age of 25, highlighting the wealth of younger talent Brunel has at his disposal.
Mathieu Bastareaud will miss the match after receiving a three-week ban for making a homophobic remark towards Treviso flanker Sebastian Negri Da Oleggio during Toulon’s 36-0 thrashing of the Italian side in their recent Champions Cup clash.
World Rugby rules state the offence carries a minimum six-week ban, but it was halved because of his guilty plea.
Other notable French absentees include Louis Picamoles, Baptiste Serin and Francois Trinh-Duc.
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France follow up the Ireland game with a visit to Scotland, before returning home to face Italy and England. They end the Six Nations with an away tie against Wales.
Les Bleus struggled in 2017, winning just three of their 11 Tests during the year. However, those victories came in the Six Nations against Scotland, Italy and Wales and Brunel will be eager to make his mark this time around.
France have a decent record against the Irish, winning 56 and drawing seven of their previous 96 meetings.
However, Ireland have won four and drawn two of their last seven games against France and they can be backed at 2/1 to win this season’s Six Nations crown.
England are 4/5 favourites to retain the title, while Scotland and Wales are both ahead of France in the betting.
It’s difficult to see past an England success in the outright betting, but backing France (+5) at Evens in the handicap market to beat Ireland could pay dividends.
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