2024 Olympic champion aged 7, Pau striker Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, often praised for his aerial ability, is preparing to honor Fabien Galtier’s first Blues cap. A portrait of a striker with an explosive profile who was able to break down the doors of the France XV after a career that was far from linear.
This time the meeting is scheduled. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang will make his first cap for France against Australia on Saturday. A baptism of fire that confirms the meteoric rise of this 26-year-old striker, who in just a few months has become a strong force in the Pau section. First choice despite the unique journey. Arriving at Pau in the summer of 2024 with the tag of a rugby sevens phenom, he wasted no time in convincing people that he could also establish himself at the highest level in the XV. His speed, ability to win aerial duels, explosiveness in one-on-one duels and investment in defense quickly made him a major weapon in Béarnaise’s attack. In an ambitious team, Grandidier-Nkanang – he goes by his surname – has demonstrated that he is no longer just a striker, but a complete player, capable of carrying large amounts of run and weight into a match through both his initiative and his activities off the ball.
This rise in power apparently did not escape Blues headquarters. If his presence in France’s group is already an indication, he almost celebrated his first selection against New Zealand. During his first training sessions at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane, he wore the starting jersey. At the end of one such session at the Queensland Reds’ regular pitch, coach Fabien Galthier even lingered with his player with peroxide in his hair. Two men, quietly located in the tent where the technical staff’s computers were located, talked for a long time. Without hiding, in complete transparency. And the huge smile on Palua’s face said a lot about the content of the discussion. And then, a reversal. The staff chose another option. The player’s emotional uplift is guaranteed.
Arlettaz: “For these players it is important to catch the ball in the air and win”
This time the doubt did not last long. Since the beginning of the week, after the departure of Damian Penaud, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang continued to practice in the starting lineup, practically without leaving his attacking zone for the French. A strong symbol for a player whose profile fits modern rugby perfectly: powerful, fast, unpredictable and capable of covering multiple positions in the back triangle. Somewhat similar to Theo Attissobe, his partner in the Po section. “Aaron has something in common with Theo. (Attissogbe replaced at fullback) perform well in the air– emphasizes offensive coach Patrick Arlettaz. Subsequently, this is a different style of player. Aaron is more athletic, a little toned, fuller. Theo is more cat-like. These are not exactly the same players. On the other hand, they do have a strong axis: air battles. This is what they are really interested in, what they work for and what they have ambitions for. For these players, it is important to get to the ball in the air and win it. And this is important for us too. »
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The Grandidier-Nkananga journey remains atypical. He was born in England, emerged in Brive and made his reputation in the France 7 shirt. Since 2022, he has established himself as one of the world’s top goalscorers and then became one of the main architects of the Olympic coronation won in Paris in 2024. His try in the final against Fiji after falling over fifty meters remains one of the shining images of that historic gold medal. Long considered a specialist on the 7th century, Palois may now have an equally bright future in the 15th. It remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself with the same success. In 2024, Theo Attissogbe used the summer tour of Argentina to open the doors for the Blues. Then settle there forever. Today, the rest of Louis Biel-Biare, combined with the injury of Damian Penaud, opens a similar gap for Aaron Grandidier-Nkananga. The whole point of this Test against Australia will be to follow in the footsteps of his club partner: turning the possibility of an understudy into a perpetual sesame for the French XV.