July 9 : Matthieu Jalibert has been selected to start at fullback for France’s Nations Championship fixture against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, but he faces a late fitness test on a troublesome calf injury.• Coach Fabien Galthie has made eight changes to the side that narrowly lost 34-32 to New Zealand in their tournament opener and is hoping Jalibert, who played at flyhalf last weekend, comes through Friday’s final training session.• Should Jalibert be unavailable, Antoine Hastoy will wear the number 15 jersey, after his impressive performance as a late replacement against the All Blacks, while Romain Ntamack is at flyhalf.• "I promised Matthieu the first test match (at flyhalf) and Romain the second. They were promises, so I'm keeping them," Galthie said.
• 2024 Olympic Sevens rugby gold medallist Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang earns a first cap on the wing in a back three that also includes Jalibert and Theo Attissogbe.• Australia-born prop Moses Alo-Emile will also earn his first cap as part of a forward pack with five changes. Only fellow prop Demba Bamba, number eight Marko Gazzotti and flanker Oscar Jegou remain from the side that lost to New Zealand.• Starting XV: 15-Matthieu Jalibert, 14-Theo Attissogbe, 13-Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12-Yoram Moefana, 11-Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Maxime Lucu (captain), 8-Marko Gazzotti, 7-Oscar Jegou, 6-Lenni Nouchi, 5-Emmanuel Meafou, 4-Florian Verhaeghe, 3-Demba Bamba, 2-Peato Mauvaka, 1-Moses Alo-Emile• Replacements: 16-Maxime Lamothe, 17-Jefferson Poirot, 18-Tevita Tatafu, 19-Hugo Auradou, 20-Tom Staniforth, 21-Killian Tixeront, 22-Nolann Le Garrec, 23-Kalvin Gourgues.
