Bastareaud misses out on France's World Cup squad
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 like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
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