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Blow for France as Geoffrey Doumayrou ruled out of RWC
By Online Editors
France centre Geoffrey Doumayrou has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an Achilles injury, coach Jacques Brunel has announced.
The 29-year-old will miss Saturday's clash with Scotland in Nice and the World Cup, with his replacement still to be named.
"Geoffrey Doumayrou will miss the World Cup," Brunel said at a press conference reported by L'Equipe.
"He suffers from a fissure injury in the Achilles tendon. The decision was made (on Thursday) morning. We will have to replace him and we will communicate the name during the day."
Brunel expects a tough match against an unpredictable Scotland side. "Scotland are a team that look like us due to their unpredictable side - they are capable of beautiful things as we saw against England during the Six Nations. Against the Scots, you have to prepare for anything.”
Five months after rounding off a disappointing Six Nations with a scrappy win over Italy in Rome, Brunel, who named his World Cup 31 back in June, is giving Test debuts against Scotland to winger Alivereti Raka and back row Francois Cros.
There are only four survivors from their last outing in Rome, full-back Maxime Medard, winger Damian Penaud, scrum-half Antoine Dupont and No8 Greg Alldritt.
FRANCE: Médard; Penaud, Fofana, Fickou, Raka; Lopez, Dupont; Alldritt, Ollivon, Cros, Vahaamahina, Gabrillagues, Slimani, Chat, Poirot (capt). Reps: Mauvaka, Priso, Steniao, Lambey, Picamoles, Serin, Ntamack, Ramos.
- Press Association
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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