• Uncapped Geoffrey Palis will start at full-back
The new France coach Jacques Brunel has named the teenager Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half for his team’s Six Nations opening game against Ireland on Saturday.
The 19-year-old Jalibert, who will make his international debut at the Stade de France three months after starting his first Top 14 match with Bordeaux-Begles, has been paired with the in-form Maxime Machenaud after Morgan Parra was ruled out through injury. “This year is going really fast, everything is happening to me at lightning speed,” said Jalibert.
Another uncapped player, the full-back Geoffrey Palis, will also start as Brunel hopes to restore France’s confidence for his first game in charge.
“Since he’s in the squad we believe he is able to play at that level. There is no reason for him not to start,” Brunel, who took over from Guy Novè, who oversaw a dismal series of internationals last November.
“He has what it takes to take the lead. He’s well integrated in the squad. He is mature enough even if the Irish are going to take care of him,” Brunel said.
Machenaud, who has a 94% kicking rate this season, will kick the conversions and penalties, said Brunel.
France will rely on Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas’s speed on the wings while Palis, even though he will win his first cap at 26, will be the perfect man to “handle Ireland’s kicking game”, according to Brunel, who earlier this year said Les Bleus should be title contenders. France last won the Six Nations in 2010.
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