One of the burning questions to be answered at the Men’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations is whether France can rise from the psychological ashes of Rugby World Cup heartbreak.

That defeat to South Africa by a single point in the quarter finals, has left a hefty piece of rugby scar tissue.

For the blue phoenix to rise again from the ashes it is going to have to take a mighty mental leap.

The stars have not aligned for them this time around. France open the tournament against Ireland, arguably the toughest opponents they will face all tournament, and they will be without their captain, talisman and rugby super hero Antoine Dupont, who will be preparing his bid to win Olympic gold with the France sevens squad.

On the positive side, the match will be played at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, a raucous Friday night under the lights where the atmosphere will be fever pitch. Also, Ireland, who suffered a similar fate of execution at the quarter final stage of the Rugby World Cup, will have their doubts and disappointments to overcome.

France named their tournament squad last week and it makes strange reading without a Dupont or an Ntamack present, two world class operators who will be greatly missed. Having said all that, Lucu and Jalibert are in imperious form for Bordeaux, and their half back pairing is not a bad replacement for the absent Toulouse duo.

Elsewhere Gregory Alldritt was named captain, it was a close run thing between him and Charles Ollivon, the fact that Alldritt is bi-lingual may have swayed the decision his way, especially as most of the international referees have very limited command of the French language at best.

There were twenty-two survivors from France Rugby World Cup squad. Flament, Bourgarit, Falatea and Gros are all injured, whilst Antoine Dupont is concentrating on his Olympic dreams.

Sadly Anthony Jelonch damaged knee ligaments last weekend against Bath and will now miss the entire tournament, his place in the squad goes to Alexandre Roumat of Toulouse.

Matthis Lebel has been given the nod over Gabin Villière, at scrum half Le Garrec takes Baptiste Couilloud’s place. Racing fly half Antoine Gilbert is chosen ahead of Hastoy.

The average age of this squad is 26 years 6 months so the majority should be available for RWC 2027, but in the meantime Galthie is firmly focused on early February and that huge Friday night on the Med, and what a night it promises to be.