With apologies to any squads I’ve missed, one of the favourites, and my perennial favourite have announced their squads for the World Cup today.
France Squad
Looseheads: Cyril Baille, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Reda Wardi
Hookers: Pierre Bourgarit, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka
Tightheads: Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Sipili Falatea
Second Row: Thibaud Flament, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Willemse, Cameron Woki
Backrow: Grégory Alldritt, Paul Boudehent, François Cros, Anthony Jelonch, Sekou Macalou, Charles Ollivon
Scrumhalf: Baptiste Couilloud, Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu
Outside half: Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert
Centres: Jonathan Danty, Gaël Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Arthur Vincent
Wingers: Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Gabin Villière
Full-backs: Melvyn Jaminet, Thomas Ramos
Perhaps most surprising is the inclusion in the squad of Baille. He might make it back for the last pool game, more likely the quarter finals. But Galthié obviously thinks it’s worth having him there for that.
Heavily discussed in the French media are the inclusion of Hastoy and Bielle-Biarrey over Dulin and Dumortier respectively. I expect this is part of Galthié’s future planning. I would not expect to see them play against New Zealand, probably not against Italy either, maybe from the bench. But Uruguay and Namibia, sure, get some good time at the World Cup and experience for future games.
There are a slew of about 15 unlucky names who I’m sure Galthié has talked to, explained what his plan is, and told them that, in case of injury, they’re his reserves in various spots.
This squad really shows the strength in depth. The list of the 15 names that “missed out” isn’t quite a team it doesn’t have the right balance of positions” but most of them could walk into any other squad quite easily. In fact, if they all find Welsh grannies, we’ll take them!
Wales Squad
Forwards (19): Taine Basham, Adam Beard, Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias, Taulupe Faletau, Tomas Francis, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake, Dillon Lewis, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Will Rowlands, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs (14): Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Liam Williams, Tomos Williams.
Perhaps the biggest surprise here is the commission of Cuthbert. Followed, for me, by the inclusion of Domachowski but the omission of Assiratti. I do not pretend to be an expert at front rows, but I thought they struggled against England and South Africa, but obviously Humphries and Gatland saw enough from one and not the other that Domachowski got the nod. These are both really young guys, I think they’re both 22 which for props is basically still in nappies, so it’s not a disaster for Assiratti and, heaven forbid, if we get an injury, he’s got to be the next cab off the rank.
If you scratch the surface of this, there is a team that looks decent for Wales there. They’ve had no time together, and Fiji looks like a tough opener, but it’s there.
Unlike the French squad, this illustrates the ways the WRU has shot Gatland in the foot. That starting XV, maybe a XXIII is there. Then it starts to get really thin on the ground…
