Captain Dupont to start - France name team to play South Africa in quarter-final

France head coach Fabien Galthié has named his match-day 23 to face South Africa in their Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-final at Stade de France on Sunday. Scrum-half Antoine Dupont returns after injury to captain the hosts. Anthony Jelonch retains his place in the back row with Francois Cros one of six forwards on the bench.

1 Cyril Baille
2 Peato Mauvaka
3 Uini Atonio
4 Cameron Woki
5 Thibaud Flament
6 Anthony Jelonch
7 Charles Ollivon
8 Gregory Alldritt
9 Antoine Dupont (c)
10 Matthieu Jalibert
11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey
12 Jonathan Danty
13 Gael Fickou
14 Damian Penaud
15 Thomas Ramos

Replacements:
16 Pierre Bourgarit
17 Reda Wardi
18 Dorian Aldegheri
19 Romain Taofifenua
20 Francois Cros
21 Sekou Macalou
22 Maxime Lucu
23 Yoram Moefana

• Head coach Fabien Galthié has made just one change to his starting XV that defeated Italy 60-7 in the last last game, with captain Antoine Dupont returning just 24 days after fracturing his jaw against Namibia in Marseille.
• Galthié has named a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench for the second time this tournament.
• Twelve of the starting XV who defeated South Africa in Marseille in 2022 have been named again this time.
• Damian Penaud has scored the most tries of any player in 2023 so far with 14. He is currently enjoying a seven-game try-scoring streak, the longest of his career. He is the top try-scorer at RWC 2023 with six after the pool rounds. He is three short of setting a new tournament record.
• Fellow wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey has scored four tries in three games at RWC 2023. This will be his first test at Stade de France.
• Thomas Ramos is the top points scorer at RWC 2023 with 61, with success rate of 86%.
• In his 20th test as captain, Antoine Dupont is yet to lose a match on home soil. He captained France to their first win against the Springboks in 13 years in 2022.