Let's talk theoretically here ...
Who would your France match day 23 be and the coaching staff to go with it?
I'd say there are a few certainties.
Hookers: Guirado and Kayser seem to be the choices, don't think the staff could choose anyone else. If a third hooker is taken to England, it will probably be Szarzewski.
Props: Mas, Ben Arous and Debaty seem to be the coaches' favourites. The fourth could be Slimani or Atonio (and Mas could be left out too in favour of these two).
Locks: Maestri is a sure starter, and Papé would be the second one. For the bench, one of Flanquart, Vahamaahina or Taofifenua. I think that for the WC squad it will be only one of the last two.
Backrowers: Picamoles is really expected back, and Dusatoir is an obvious choice. It is not clear anymore imo that Leroux will be the third starter, it could be Chouly as a flanker, or Goujon other.
Scrum-half: I hope it's Parra, but it will surely be Tillous-Borde.
Fly-half: Nobody knows here. Personnally, I don't think Trinh-Duc will be making a comeback, I even see Michalak as more likely. There's a feud going on right now with Clermont on Lopez' management, and he might pay for it. I'd say Plisson will be starting.
Centres: Lots of choice here. Bastareaud will surely be on the bench, and the starters could be two of Mermoz, Fofana, Fickou, Lamerat or Dumoulin.
Wingers: Huget seems a certainty, and Nakaitaci is the front-runner for the other spot right now.
Fullback: Spedding is the preferred one.
Now my opinion:
Personnally, I was against PSA's appointment (was hoping for Galthié), but supported him for a long time, pretty much until last year's 6N, but now he has shown a degree of incompetence that is just unsustainable. Now losing by 20 points is considered a heroic performance...
I'm also losing my patience with Dusautoir. He's lacking the consistence of yore, and his leadership seems very ineffective for the kind of group that France has at the moment. It is also obvious for everyone that he lacks the minimum level of complementarity with Leroux - we have never seen a game in which they both played well, they seem to run into each other.
Now, by position.
The loosehead props, I'm pretty happy with Ben Arous and Debaty. I'm not a big fan of players that can only be "impact players", but Debaty has shown he can be a starting option too.
Hookers: Both solid but nothing Servat-esque. Still waiting for Tolofua, Orioli, etc but seems too late now for the WC.
Tighthead props: Totally against Atonio here. The guy can't stand 20 minutes of international play. I'm also a bit biased in Slimani's favour.
Locks: Maestri for sure, but Papé keeps showing that he can't be relied upon. I'd go for Flanquart to start and Taofifenua for the bench. They're both good lineout jumpers, which gives more freedom in choosing the backrow (in particular, we're not forced to choose Chouly).
Backrow: Goujon had good showings, and I'd try him alongside Picamoles and Dusautoir. He seems more the mobile (and passing) sort when compared to Picamoles. Probably Choul for the bench, as he's been in the setup for some time (I'd go for Lauret or Lapandry if there were more time).
Halfback: Big Parra fan here. Always have been, even during those dark "Machenaud is an international class player" bull**** days. Happy enough with TB on the bench.
Flyhalf: Plisson and Lopez, if only because there doesn't seem to be any other alternative. Don't really believe in TD's comeback (come at me Gaston)
Centres: I'm satisfied with Bastareaud as an impact player. I think it has work, as it has worked with Debaty and as it can't work with Atonio (cf above). For the starters, I think pretty much any pair out of the five above will do. I will depend on Lamerat's and Dumoulin's form after injury, and on whether Fofana can break a line between now and September. My only strong preference is Fickou>Mermoz.
Wingers: the ones mentioned above seem an inevitable choice (if I had been told a few years ago that Huget was going to be a sure starter...)
Fullback: will depend on form, I'm happy enough with any of the two. We'll also have to see Bonneval's form when back from injury, but I think that's a very long shot.
