Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert recovers from thigh tear to give injury-hit France a boost

PARIS (AP) — Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert gave injury-hit France a boost when he was selected Sunday in a larger 42-man squad for next weekend's Nations Championship match at home to Argentina.

Jalibert suffered a right thigh tear playing for Bordeaux-Begles in the French ​Top 14 league on Sept. 20 but has recovered quicker than expected.

His return is a boost for coach Fabien Galthié, who has coped with injuries in the backs department to experienced flyhalf Romain Ntamack, fullback Thomas Ramos — who can also double up as a No. 10 — and backup flyhalf Antoine Hastoy.

Despite the injuries, France stunned four-time World Cup winner South Africa 21-19 on Friday in a thrilling contest that saw captain Antoine Dupont switched from scrumhalf to flyhalf alongside Maxime Lucu, with the pair regularly switching positions.

A heavily depleted France shot out to leads of 14-0 and 21-7 by halftime and held on without scoring in a pressure-cooker second half. Lucu called withstanding South Africa “the biggest challenge” of his career so far and was outstanding alongside Dupont. So much so that the pair were tagged “icons” by Galthié.

However, if the mercurial Jalibert returns to the starting lineup to win his 43rd cap at Stade de France on Saturday, Lucu would go back to the bench as Dupont's backup.

Hooker Julien Marchand, a last-minute withdrawal against South Africa after hurting himself in the warmup, will miss the Argentina game.

Peato Mauvaka is expected to replace him again when Galthié announces his matchday squad on Thursday.

France leads the northern hemisphere standings and is guaranteed to reach the Nov. 29 final with a bonus-point win against Argentina.

See AP’s full rugby coverage here

France's head coach Fabien Galthier walks on the pitch before the Nations Championship rugby match between France and South Africa, in Saint Denis, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez)

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, French rugby player Matthieu Jalibert during a training session at the National Rugby Center in Marcoussis, south of Paris, France. Matthieu Jalibert replaces the injured Romain Ntamack at flyhalf after France coach Fabien Galthie made eight changes to his team Friday Nov. 20, 2020, for the Autumn Nations Cup match against Scotland on upcoming Sunday Nov. 22. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, FILE)

France's players celebrate at the end of the Nations Championship rugby match between France and South Africa, in Saint Denis, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez)

HERNING, Denmark (AP) — The United States shut out Finland 5-0 on Sunday to advance to the final of the women’s ice hockey worlds.

The defending champion will face the winner of the other semifinal between Canada and Sweden in Monday’s gold medal game.

Captain Hilary Knight had a goal and added an assist with Kelly Pannek, Alex Carpenter, Caroline Harvey and Lacey Eden also scoring.

Aerin Rankel stopped 17 shots for her eighth career worlds shutout and 19th victory.

The Americans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period after Pannek netted the opener from the low slot 6:36 in and Knight fed Carpenter with a backhand pass from behind the net to double the advantage with 3:26 remaining.

Harvey, Eden and Knight extended the lead to 5-0 in the span of 1:35 in the second period.

Tournament leading scorer Harvey moved on to 15 points from six games. Knight extended her record point tally to 130 with 74 goals and 56 assists in 93 games at the worlds.

Finland pulled goalie Sanni Ahola, who made 20 saves, after the second period, with Emilia Kyrkko taking over and finishing with nine saves.

Finland will next play in the bronze-medal game after finishing third last year.

See AP’s full women’s hockey coverage here

United States players celebrate after their win in the semifinal match between the United States and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Lacey Eden celebrates after scoring her side's fourth goal during the semifinal match between the United States and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Caroline Harvey (4) celebrates after scoring her side's third goal during the semifinal match between the United States and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Rantala is challenged by United States' Hilary Knight during the semifinal match between the United States and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's goaltender Sanni Ahola, second left, reacts after she fails to stop a shot by the United States' Hilary Knight (21) for the team's fifth goal during the semifinal match between the United States and Finland at the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)