French duo Dupont and Penaud fit to face Wales

France coach Jacques Brunel has retained most of his team for their quarter-final against Wales. Photo: Aaron Favila/AP Photo

France coach Jacques Brunel has retained most of his team for their quarter-final against Wales. Photo: Aaron Favila/AP Photo

Published Oct 18, 2019

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OITA - Key French backs Antoine

Dupont and Damian Penaud have been passed fit to play in the

World Cup quarter-final against Wales and were included in the

starting line-up by coach Jacques Brunel on Friday. 

Scrumhalf Dupont had a back problem while winger Penaud had

an abdominal strain but both men, who have been in sharp form in

Japan and in the warm-up games, have recovered well enough to

play on Sunday. 

Brunel has largely returned to the team that started their

opening game over Argentina, though with Bernard Le Roux

starting instead of Arthur Iturria in the second row.

However, there was no place in the 23 for exciting winger

Alivereti Raka, a tryscorer against the United States and Tonga. 

France have won only one of the teams' last eight meetings

since beating Wales in the semi-finals of the 2011 tournament.

Fullback Maxime Medard is the only survivor from that match in

New Zealand. 

France team

: 15-Maxime Medard, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Virimi

Vakatawa, 12-Gael Fickou, 11-Yoann Huget, 10-Romain Ntamack,

9-Antoine Dupont, 8-Gregory Alldritt, 7-Charles Ollivon,

6-Wenceslas Lauret, 5-Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4-Bernard Le Roux,

3-Rabah Slimani, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1-Jefferson Poirot 

Replacements:

16-Camille Chat, 17-Cyril Baille, 18-Emerick

Setiano, 19-Paul Gabrillagues, 20-Louis Picamoles, 21-Baptiste

Serin, 22-Camille Lopez, 23-Vincent Rattez. 

Reuters

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