The last minutes of Baptiste Serin in the France team are starting to date. They date back to March 26, 2021, the evening of a defeat against Scotland at the Stade de France at the end of a “clustered” Tournament. At that time, especially for the first two Tournaments of the Galthié era (2020 and 2021), the Toulon scrum-half was clearly behind Antoine Dupont in the hierarchy of “nines” and just as clearly ahead of the others (Maxime Lucu, Baptiste Couilloud, Nolan Le Garrec…), who we did not see coming yet.
Entering in the 71st minute in place of Dupont on March 26, Serin had a ringside seat to witness the reckless recovery of Brice Dulin who precipitated the French defeat (23-27). As of that day, neither Serin nor Dulin have reappeared. Still, Serin’s chances of making the roster for the World Cup in France have become real again. For the number 3 place behind Dupont and Lucu, a triangle is emerging between Serin, Le Garrec and Couilloud, the Montpellier Léo Coly starting from a little too far.
Placed this year, but not entered the field with the Blues
Absent for almost two years, Serin (28, 45 caps) has been recalled in the group of the Blues following Nolann Le Garrec’s injury before facing Scotland in the last Six Nations. Serin had just marked the spirits with the RCT against Toulouse at the Vélodrome. Even if he didn’t make it into any match sheet (Lucu had returned and resumed his role as Dupont’s regular understudy), his time at Marcoussis was appreciated.
Coupled with a very good season with Toulon, will that be enough to dispel the doubts that remain here and there around his integration into a group of globalists despite a priori low playing time? Selected for the World Cup in Japan in 2019, the UBB player (at that time) had regularly entered the relay of Dupont. Throughout his term, Fabien Galthié has always held him in high esteem, frequently putting his name on his personal lists before discussing it with his staff.