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Bastareaud misses out on France's World Cup squad
By Online Editors
Jacques Brunel has omitted experienced pair Mathieu Bastareaud and Morgan Parra from his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.
Neither make the 'supplement' list of six players either.
Bastareaud left Toulon in the summer to sign a landmark deal with Major League Rugby outfit Rugby United New York, but featured prominently during this year's Six Nations for France.
Parra was dropped from Brunel's France squad during the Six Nations after criticism of the management in the aftermath of the 44-8 defeat to England, after which the scrum half hinted at discord in the camp.
“I think that we are capable of doing what the English do, but are we working on this during training? I think we don’t work on it enough, even not at all,” Parra said.
“Yet these are very simple things that are today part of high-level rugby. We can do this. But do we work on it? No.”
Brunel said at the time it was a "sporting choice" to drop Parra. What won't have helped his cause this time is the fact the 30-year-old is currently battling with an ankle injury which he picked up while playing for club side Clermont Auvergne.
Parra would certainly have brought plenty of tournament experience, having featured in 2011 and 2015 World Cup's.
Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas, who was punished for a night out in Edinburgh during the Six Nations after France had suffered a 32-26 defeat, was also left out by Brunel.
Prop Uini Atonio also failed to make the cut.
Wesley Fofana, who is retiring from international rugby after the Rugby World Cup, is included in the 31-man list.
Three-time World Cup runners-up France are in Pool C with England, Argentina, USA and Tonga and play their first match of the tournament against Argentina on September 21st in Tokyo.
Watch: Bastareaud quickly embraces New York
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I 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.
Go to commentsWhatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.
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