Blow for France as Geoffrey Doumayrou ruled out of RWC

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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