- Title: A revamped France team to face Canada in Rugby World Cup
- Date: 1st October 2019
- Summary: FUKUOKA, JAPAN (OCTOBER 1, 2019) (REUTERS) FUKUOKA STADIUM WITH FRANCE RUGBY TEAM TRAINING DURING CAPTAIN'S RUN U.S. AND FRANCE FLAGS VARIOUS OF FRANCE PLAYING RUGBY RUGBY BALLS FRANCE TRAINING AS ASSISTANT COACH FABIEN GALTHIE WATCHES FRANCE COACH JACQUES BRUNEL WALKING ON PITCH TEAM PLAYING CAMERAMAN FRANCE PLAYERS ROMAIN NTAMACK (RIGHT) AND MAXIME MEDARD FRANCE CAPTAIN LOUIS PICAMOLES WALKING ON PITCH NEWS CONFERENCE UNDERWAY (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE CAPTAIN, LOUIS PICAMOLES, SAYING: "We've been preparing this match for a good week now. It wasn't complicated for me, I didn't pressure anyone. It's true the team has changed a lot, but we've all been working together for two and a half months now, we know each other, we have a common game plan so there's no problem with the many changes we've had in the team, the week went well, the training went well too, we're now eager to get to tomorrow." NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS WORKING PICAMOLES AND GAEL FICKOU LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE CAPTAIN, LOUIS PICAMOLES, SAYING: "We want to take our time, we haven't really spoken about bonus points, we just talked about getting our game plan right and to adapt as the match goes on and see if there's an opportunity. But the main priority is to win the game." FRANCE TRAINING COVERED CAMERA BALLS ON GROUND
- Embargoed: 15th October 2019 10:47
- Keywords: France rugby XV de France Canada Rugby World Cup Picamoles
- Location: FUKUOKA, JAPAN
- City: FUKUOKA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZ9KENZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France will face the United States with an overhauled team for their second Rugby World Cup Pool C game against the Eagles in Fukuoka on Wednesday (October 2) with Louis Picamoles named to captain his country for the first time.
The three-times World Cup finalists got their campaign off to a good start in their opener against Argentina last week, racing out to a big lead then holding on to beat the Pumas 23-21.
Experienced fly-half Camille Lopez, who came off the bench to slot the winning drop goal against the Argentines, has been rewarded with a start against the Eagles.
Only blindside flanker Arthur Iturria, centre Gael Fickou and winger Yoann Huget were retained from the starting line-up from the match at Tokyo Stadium as Brunel gave his squad players the chance to shine.
With regular captain Guilhem Guirado benched, Picamoles will lead the team from number eight in his 81st test, having come off the bench to make an influential contribution in the victory over Argentina.
Picamoles told a news conference at Fukuoka stadium on Tuesday (October 1) the team would function well against the U.S. despite the many changes.
Flyhalf Romain Ntamack and fullback Maxime Medard, who both started last week, were also named among the replacements along with Guirado in case the U.S threaten an upset.
(Production: Lucien Libert) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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