Rugby: Eight European Champions from UBB in France's XV to Face All Blacks

The French national rugby team, Les Bleus, is set to field a formidable lineup featuring eight European champions from the Union Bordeaux Bègles (UBB) club for their opening match of the Nations Championship against the All Blacks in Christchurch. This selection marks a significant presence of UBB players in the starting XV, reflecting their recent European success.

Among the notable inclusions is Damian Penaud, who has returned to the squad after a period away. Penaud holds the record for the most tries in the history of the French national team. His presence, alongside other UBB stalwarts, is expected to bolster the French attack. Coach Fabien Galthié has opted for a strong Bordeaux core, with additional players from the club also featuring in the squad, including center Nicolas Depoortere on the bench.

The team's composition sees two players in the front row: hooker Maxime Lamothe and loosehead prop Jefferson Poirot, who returns to international duty after a six-year hiatus. The back row will include Pierre Bochaton and the young Marko Gazzotti at number 8. The half-back pairing will be entirely from Bordeaux-Bègles, with Maxime Lucu captaining the side and Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half, feeding outside to center Yoram Moefana and Penaud on the wing.

This selection strategy comes as France faces the formidable challenge of the All Blacks. While some top players from French champion Toulouse and finalist Montpellier are unavailable for this match, they are slated to play against the Wallabies and Japan later in July. The match against New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday at 09:10 French time, 19:10 local time in Christchurch.