Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
George Flood

France vs Namibia: Rugby World Cup kick-off time, TV channel, team news, lineups, venue, odds today

France take on Namibia in their latest Rugby World Cup outing tonight.

The hosts will be heavy favourites to keep complete control of Pool A and comfortably maintain their 100 per cent tournament record so far as they gear up for the quarter-finals and a potential shot at a first Webb Ellis Cup triumph on home soil.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW FRANCE VS NAMIBIA LIVE!

However, Fabien Galthie’s side will not be underestimating Namibia, having seen their second-string side handed a scare by plucky Uruguay last week before coming out on top 27-12, adding to the 27-13 victory over the All Blacks on opening night.

But the Welwitschias are unlikely to pose a similar sort of threat here, having been thrashed by Italy in their opening game and then given up 11 tries to a wounded All Blacks team in a 71-3 hammering in Toulouse last Friday.

Date, kick-off time and venue

France vs Namibia takes place tonight on Thursday September 21, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.

The game will take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Where to watch France vs Namibia

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live and free to air on ITV4, with coverage starting at 7:15pm.

Live stream: Fans can also catch the action live online via the ITV website and ITVX app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog!

France vs Namibia team news

After ringing the changes against Uruguay, France have brought back their big names to face Namibia with only Italy left to come next in two weeks’ time in Pool A.

There are 12 changes in total from that surprisingly hard-fought victory in Lille, with impressive young Bordeaux wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey retaining his starting spot along with back-rower Anthony Jelonch - who skippered France on his return from a serious knee injury last week - and lock Cameron Woki.

10 of the starting XV lined up against the All Blacks on opening night, with regular captain and star Antoine Dupont returning along with goal-kicker Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Matthieu Jalibert, Uini Atonio, Thibaud Flament, Francois Cros and Charles Ollivon.

Jonathan Danty is back from injury and starts at centre, likewise first-choice loosehead prop Cyril Baille. Peato Mauvaka deputises for injured hooker Julien Marchand, as he did so well off the bench on opening night.

(AFP via Getty Images)

One notable absentee for France is star back-rower Gregory Alldritt, who is not being risked with Jelonch sticking at No8 instead.

For Namibia, centre Le Roux Malan is out after suffering a horrendous fractured and dislocated ankle against New Zealand.

Danco Burger takes his place in midfield, with former South Africa coach Allister Coetzee making nine changes to the team that were brushed aside by the All Blacks.

Cliven Loubser moves from full-back to fly-half, while Johan Retief moves to the flank and Prince Gaoseb lines up at No8.

France vs Namibia lineups

France XV: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Danty, Bielle-Biarry; Jalibert, Dupont (c); Baille, Mauvaka, Atonio; Woki, Flament; Cros, Ollivon, Jelonch

Replacements: Bourgarit, Wardi, Aldegheri, Taofifenua, Boudehent, Couilloud, Moefana, Jaminet

Namibia XV: Van der Bergh; Mouton, Deysel (c), Burger, Greyling; Loubser, Theron; Sethie, Van der Westhuizen; Coetzee, Tjeriko; Ludick, Katjijeko, Retief, Gaoseb

Replacements: Nortje, Benade, Shifuka, Van Lill, Hardwick, Blaauw, Izaacs, Rossouw

France vs Namibia referee

The referee for Thursday’s game is England’s Matthew Carley.

France vs Namibia prediction

Galthie would not have been pleased with a heavily-rotated team’s rather lacklustre efforts against Uruguay and it’s not a surprise to see him go back to almost full strength here with a nice break before the Pool A finale against Italy in Lyon on October 6.

He will be looking for another statement victory from his big guns after New Zealand put 71 points on Namibia last time out.

(AP)

Namibia don’t lack for spirit and determination, but the gulf in class is enormous and they will be in damage limitation mode from the outset once again, no doubt targeting the meeting with Uruguay next Wednesday as their chance to finally impress before heading home.

They’ve never won a World Cup game despite appearing at every tournament since 1999 and that definitely won’t change here. Indeed, Namibia would do very well to keep strong France to less than 70 on the night.

France to win by at least 60 points.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

This will be only the third full international between the two nations, with France having won the last 87-10 at the 2007 Rugby World Cup on home soil. They also won 47-13 at the 1999 tournament, Namibia’s debut.

France wins: 2

Namibia wins: 0

Draws: 0

France vs Namibia latest odds

France to win: 1/500

Namibia to win: 50/1

Draw: 50/1

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.