Match News and Current Form
France welcomed world champions South Africa to their home at Stade de France last week looking to prove a point, but instead fell short in what felt like another pivotal moment to show the world they're real World Cup contenders. A 32-17 defeat ensued, their fourth successive defeat and now Les Bleus must redeem themselves or risk losing five matches in succession for the first time in seven years. Perhaps heading to the southwest of the country is just what they need, since France have won six of their last seven tests in Bordeaux (L1).
Coach Fabien Galthié has made six changes to his matchday squad, headlined by the return of eighth man Grégory Alldritt to captain the side. Elsewhere the experienced Jean-Baptiste Gros and Charles Ollivon come in at prop and lock respectively, waiting to take instructions from incoming scrumhalf Maxime Lucu. The final change to the starting XV sees the experienced Gaël Fickou drop out for Nicolas Depoortère at centre, while there is a debut waiting to be made from the bench for replacement hooker Maxime Lamothe.
Fiji make the trip across the English Channel after putting on a decent showing in their 38-18 defeat to England, a game they led for much of the first-half before being blown away in the second. That disrupted what was a five-game winning streak for the Fijians which saw them lift the Pacific Nations Cup final to lift the trophy for the second year in a row, and rediscovering that winning touch would put them in great stead for pursuing a year-end top-six finish in the World Rugby rankings, which would see them get seeded as a Band 1 nation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw.
The Flying Fijians have made no changes to their starting XV, with their matchday squad featuring seven players based in France with Racing 92 powerhouse Josua Tuisova starting in the centre and his club team-mate Selestino Ravutaumada on the right wing.
Head-to-Head History
France have won nine of the ten previous meetings between the two teams (L1) and will go into this encounter as overwhelming favourites.
Hot Stats and Streaks
France scored the first try in eight of their last ten tests.
France have covered the pre-match handicap line in seven of their last ten tests.
The Fijians scored 3+ tries in each of their last six outings.
Just two of Fiji’s seven games this year have produced more than the pre-match total points handicap.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Damian Penaud’s brace of tries against South Africa saw him become Les Bleus’ all-time top try scorer with 40, and he’ll be looking to add to that total having scored nine tries across his last five Tests against sides outside of the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. Fiji’s captain Tevita Ikanivere scored a brace of tries himself against England, taking his tally to six across his last six Tests.
France have had to deal with injuries to prop Baptiste Erdocio, flank Mickaël Guillard, and scrumhalf Nolann Le Garrec, while Fiji’s unchanged side will be hoping to go another week injury-free.
Betting Analysis
France will be focused purely on getting the result while the visitors will come out firing, meaning Fiji could keep the half-time deficit, if any, to less than ten points.
