They did it without Ntamack, Dupont, Vakatawa, or Fickou. There was no Ollivon, Alldritt, Marchand, or Le Roux. France blooded 11 debutants and named a starting pack with 13 caps between them.
Since the turn of the millennium, France have twice fielded sides with as little experience or less – notably in Argentina in July 2016, and against New Zealand at graveyard Eden Park in 2007. They lost both times.
Baptiste Serin, captain and France's most-capped player last night, had made his debut in that match in Argentina.
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