Fabien Galthié has named his France Rugby World Cup squad for their match against South Africa in the quarter-finals. And as predicted, captain and talisman Antoine Dupont is back at scrum-half.

Anthony Jelonch maintains his place in the back-row while Francois Cros one of six forwards on the bench (France have gone for a six-two split on the bench… With a familiar twist). When these sides met in November 2022, France also had a six-two bench – although Sekou Macalou also featured on the wing, such is the back-rowers versatility. He could offer the same variety in this game as he is listed amongst the replacements.

In fact, the pack for this match is identical to the one that face the Boks in November last year, barring at hooker, where Peato Mauvaka starts.

For the full team see below.

France Rugby World Cup team to face Springboks

Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont (captain); Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Cameron Woki, Thibaud Flament, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: Pierre Bourgarit, Reda Wardi, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana.

France Rugby World Cup squad 2023

Check out who made the cut below – and see the full list of Rugby World Cup fixtures here.

Looseheads

Cyril Baille (29, Toulouse)
Jean-Baptiste Gros (24, Toulon)
Reda Wardi (28, La Rochelle)

Tightheads

Dorian Aldegheri (30, Toulouse)
Uini Atonio (33, La Rochelle)
Sipili Falatea (26, Bordeaux-Bègles)

Hookers

Pierre Bourgarit (25, La Rochelle)
Julien Marchand (28, Toulouse)
Peato Mauvaka (26, Toulouse)

Locks

Thibaud Flament (26, Toulouse)
Romain Taofifenua (32, Lyon)
Bastien Chalureau (31, Montpellier)
Cameron Woki (24, Racing 92)

Back-rows

Grégory Alldritt (26, La Rochelle)
Paul Boudehent (23, La Rochelle)
François Cros (29, Toulouse)
Anthony Jelonch (27, Toulouse)
Sekou Macalou (28, Stade Français)
Charles Ollivon (30, Toulon)

Scrum-halves

Baptiste Couilloud (26, Lyon)
Antoine Dupont (26, Toulouse, Captain)
Maxime Lucu (30, Bordeaux-Bègles)

Fly-halves

Antoine Hastoy (26, La Rochelle)
Matthieu Jalibert (24, Bordeaux-Bègles)

Centres

Jonathan Danty (30, La Rochelle)
Gaël Fickou (29, Racing 92)
Yoram Moefana (23, Bordeaux-Bègles)
Arthur Vincent (23, Montpellier)

Wingers

Louis Bielle-Biarrey (20, Bordeaux-Bègles)
Damian Penaud (26, Bordeaux-Bègles)
Gabin Villière (27, Toulon)

Full-backs

Melvyn Jaminet (24, Toulouse)
Thomas Ramos (28, Toulouse)

France Rugby World Cup Pool

Hosts France have been drawn in Rugby World Cup Pool A alongside New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay and Namibia.

The knockout stages will follow the same format as previous years, with teams from Pools A and B, then Pools C and D, meeting in the quarter-finals. So Wales and England could meet in the last eight, for example.

QF1 – Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
QF2 – Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF3 – Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
QF4 – Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B

The semi-finals will be the Winner of QF1 v Winner QF2 and the Winner QF3 v Winner QF4.

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