Jalibert turns down France and McKenzie makes way for Barrett in All Blacks

PARIS (AP) — Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert chose not to be picked as a reserve for France against New Zealand in the autumn rugby test this weekend, Les Triolores coach Fabien Galthié confirmed on Thursday.

Jalibert was France’s World Cup flyhalf last year in the absence of the injured Romain Ntamack and for the start of the Six Nations. Ntamack was ruled out of this autumn campaign by a recent injury but usual fullback Thomas Ramos started at flyhalf against Japan last weekend and retained the 10 jersey against the All Blacks this Saturday at Stade de France.

Jalibert came off the bench against Japan. Against New Zealand, he was reportedly disappointed not to start and subsequently didn’t want to be in the reserves.

“Everyone has their own emotions and is free to share them,” Galthié said. “We need determination, strong players. Up until now he’s always given his best. He will continue with the national team, if he so chooses. It’s down to him to decide.”

Galthié made four changes, including a debut for Bordeaux fullback Romain Buros.

Buros replaces Leo Barré, and Gabin Villière comes in at right wing with Damian Penaud ill and his matchday replacement, Théo Attissogbe, out with a sprained left ankle.

Veteran center Gaël Fickou comes back into midfield for his 92nd cap alongside Yoram Moefana, with Émilien Gailleton going to the reserves.

The lone change in the forwards sees Paul Boudehent — who scored two second-half tries in the 52-12 win against Japan — replacing a concussed François Cros at flanker.

“(Buros) is in form with his club, he's been in form when he trains with us, and he's full of confidence,” Galthié said. "Léo fell a little bit short and that's why it was time for Romain to get the jersey.

“It's a dream (come true for him). There isn't a player in France who wouldn't want to play this match. Romain is very good in the air and there will probably be 30 kicks to contest against the All Blacks.”

Galthié chose a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench — including former captain Charles Ollivon's return — to try and match the All Blacks' impact forwards.

“It's a very strategic choice because we believe we'll need a maximum of activity and collective strength,” he said. “Against Japan we had 42 minutes of ball in play, 234 tackles, but this will be different. There will be a lot of runs, of positioning without the ball, and a lot of attention on the last 20 meters. In the last few weeks, the All Blacks have won a lot of decisive penalties in the last three or four scrums.”

France and New Zealand met in the opening game of the 2023 World Cup, which France won 27-13 with Jalibert a starter. The All Blacks went on to reach the final at Stade de France, losing to South Africa.

New Zealand dramatically edged England 24-22 two weeks ago at Twickenham and beat Ireland 23-13 in Dublin last Friday.

Damian McKenzie's brilliant game against Ireland wasn't enough to keep the All Blacks 10 jersey, which was restored to Beauden Barrett.

Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor were concussed against England and missed the Ireland win. They have both returned.

McKenzie and Asafo Aumua have dropped to the reserves.

Injuries to flanker Sam Cane (head) and winger Mark Tele'a (hand) have given starts to Samipeni Finau and Sevu Reece respectively.

To accommodate Finau on the blindside flank, Wallace Sititi has moved to No. 8 and Ardie Savea to the openside.

Also, Cam Roigard has won the scrumhalf’s start, swapping with Cortez Ratima. Roigard's kicking game was the difference, Robertson said.

The All Blacks haven't beaten France in Paris since 2018.

Lineups:

France: Romain Buros, Gabin Villière, Gaël Fickou, Yoram Moefana, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont (captain); Grégory Alldritt, Alexandre Roumat, Paul Boudehent, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Tevita Tatafu, Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros. Reserves: Reda Wardi, Julien Marchand, Georges-Henri Colombe, Romain Taofifenua, Mickaël Guillard, Charles Ollivon, Nolann Le Garrec, Émilien Gailleton.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand's Damian McKenzie, kicks a penalty during the the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

New Zealand's Beauden Barrett takes part in a team run at The Lensbury Resort, Teddington, England, Friday Nov. 1, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Jordie Barrett, centre, is tackled by England's Ollie Lawrence, left, during the Autumn Nations Series rugby match between England and New Zealand, at Twickenham stadium, in London Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

New Zealand's Jordie Barrett, center, is tackled by Ireland's Finlay Bealham, left, and James Ryan (5) during the Autumn international rugby match, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

France's Antoine Dupont makes a break during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

France's coach Fabien Galthie watches his team warm-up for the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

PARIS (AP) — A heavy police presence but few visiting fans are expected when France hosts Israel in Nations League soccer on Thursday, a week after violence erupted in Amsterdam in connection with an Israeli club team’s visit.

French police chief Laurent Nuñez said 4,000 police officers and security staff will be deployed around the Stade de France, with another 1,500 police on public transport.

Paris authorities are on high alert following the violence in Amsterdam before and after a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Dutch authorities say fans from both sides were involved in the unrest. The assaults on Maccabi fans sparked outrage and were widely condemned as antisemitic.

“What we learned from Amsterdam is that we need to be present in the public space including far away from the stadium," and in public transports before and after the match, Nuñez said Thursday on French news broadcaster France Info.

Three months after hosting the Olympic closing ceremony, the atmosphere has gone from festive to fearful and the national stadium was expected to be three-quarters empty for the match. French President Emmanuel Macron and French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau will be present. Former presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy are also to attend.

“We will not give in to antisemitism, anywhere. And violence, including in the French Republic, will never prevail, nor will intimidation,” Macron told BFM TV channel.

Only 20,000 of 80,000 tickets have been sold with around 150 Israel supporters reportedly attending, escorted by police.

“We’ve tried to prepare for this match as normally as possible. But obviously none of us within the team can be insensitive to such a heavy context,” France coach Didier Deschamps said Wednesday. “It impacts the amount of supporters present tomorrow and everything that goes with it.”

The away match against Israel on Oct. 10 — which France won 4-1 — was played in Budapest, Hungary.

“These are situations the players are not accustomed to,” Deschamps said. “But we have to adapt.”

The low number of visiting fans comes after Israel’s National Security Council warned citizens abroad to avoid sports and cultural events, specifically the match in Paris.

Retailleau told French news channel TF1 on Tuesday that no specific threats were identified but “zero risk does not exist.”

Therefore, he said, exceptional measures are in place "before the match, during the match and after the match."

The elite tactical unit of the French National Police, known as RAID, will be in the stadium and some police will be in plain clothes mingling with fans. There will also be heavy surveillance within Paris, including at Jewish places of worship and schools.

“It is out of the question that we take the risk of seeing a repeat of the dramatic events, of the manhunt, that we saw in Amsterdam,” Retailleau said, adding that postponing or moving the game elsewhere was ruled out.

“France does not submit, and the France-Israel match will take place where it's supposed to," he said.

In Amsterdam, a number of Maccabi fans attacked a cab and chanted anti-Arab slogans while some men carried out “hit and run” attacks on people they thought were Jews, according to city Mayor Femke Halsema.

After the match, parts of a large group of Maccabi supporters armed with sticks ran around “destroying things,” a 12-page report on the violence issued by Amsterdam authorities said.

There were also “rioters, moving in small groups, by foot, scooter or car, quickly attacking Maccabi fans before disappearing,” it said.

Protests erupted in Paris on Wednesday night against a controversial gala organized by far-right figures in support of Israel.

The game in Saint-Denis, the suburb north of Paris, is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT).

A pro-Palestinian demonstration is organized on a Saint-Denis plaza at 6 p.m. local time to protest against the match.

Nine years ago, Stade de France was one of several locations during the Nov. 13 terror attacks in which 130 people died. France was playing Germany that night when two explosions happened outside the stadium.

Deschamps, Germany coach Joachim Löw and all of the players stayed together in the locker rooms for hours until it was safe to leave.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Protesters take part in a rally against the "Israel is Forever" gala organized by far-right Franco-Israeli figures, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Nations League 2025 soccer match between France and Israel. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

FILE - Police officers stand guard ahead the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Denmark at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, France, Friday, June 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)