Key man for Clermont: France centre Virimi Vakatawa
This weekend’s Top 14 matches – the 13th round of the season – offered international hopefuls one final chance to impress France coach Fabien Galthie ahead of the announcement on Wednesday of the first training squad for the 2020 Six Nations.
Expectations for this debut squad, under this new-look coaching set-up, are high – though these things are relative. Great international rugby expectations are heavily tempered by recent, painful history in France.
Even so, the announcement of that first training squad wil...