In a match during the November tour, Sékou Macalou, a young French wing, made a significant impression by challenging Ardie Savea and winning his duel against him. This match was unofficially his first cap for the French team and was scheduled amidst a heavily packed tour. At the time, the French team was facing general difficulties, but the young players were highly motivated and caused many problems for the All Blacks reserve team, which included many future stars, with Ardie Savea at the forefront. Sékou Macalou dominated the discussions, allowing people to imagine that the raw talent from Sarcelles could one day become a dominant element on the international stage. At Lyon, in November 2017, the athlete from Stade Français had made an impression: huge in close combat, tough in contact, and magnificent in the lineout (5 balls caught, including 1 stolen), the 22-year-old wing had concluded the performance with a desire to go wide. Five minutes from the end, the athlete set up a linebreak for Tu’ungafasi in the line, before accelerating over 60 meters. Reclaimed by the short side within the New Zealand 22 meters after having raised the French crowd, his monumental run led to the try by Chavancy and allowed the French team to believe in a victory until the end (23 to 28). This was undoubtedly one of the most complete matches of his career, especially in the French team, where his adventure was often hindered and ultimately modest (20 caps) compared to the rare potential of the young man. He played his last cap during the 2023 World Cup in France, against Uruguay. If Macalou has not yet officially announced the end of his career, it is almost certain that he will retire by the end of the season at the latest.