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Alldritt's shock omission from the French squad explained
By Ian Cameron
France star Gregory Alldritt has explained the circumstances that saw him removed from the national squad earlier this week.
Alldritt was replaced in the squad by Cameron Woki but the FFR didn't offer up an explanation as to why the La Rochelle No.8 had been withdrawn.
The forward was then named in La Rochelle's team to play Bayonne in the Top 14 this week, adding to the intrigue around his situation. He scored two tries in the 40 - 3 hammering that saw La Rochelle climb back to the top of the league, suggesting his on his old field performances were hardly in question.
Alldritt has now told French media that he needs to undergo an examination on an injured knee so he can be 100 per cent for the national team.
“On Monday I’ll have a test, normally it will take a few days to heal because it’s important to join the national team at 100 percent ,” he told Canal+.
“It shouldn’t be too long. It wasn’t an easy decision to take. I’ll do the exams, work hard and be ready if the staff need me again,” he added.
He could still feature for France in the tournament.
Alldritt has been a star of France's new rugby rival and has become one of the cornerstone's of their dynamic pack. He has also been superb in European competition, making a round-high 23 carries during La Rochelle's win against Edinburgh Rugby at BT Murrayfield in December.
He was on the shortlist for the Six Nations Player of the Year, alongside Les Bleus teammates Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. He made 83 tackles during the tournament, a total only beaten by fellow French back row Bernard Le Roux. He also carried for a remarkable 398 metres across the tournament.
Just 23, the 6'3, 115kg forward appears to have the rugby world at his feet.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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