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Uini Atonio replaced by 132kg understudy as 3 pull out of France squad
By Josh Raisey
Veteran tighthead Uini Atonio is one of three players to be replaced by Fabien Gatlhie in France's 42-man squad ahead of their autumn internationals.
France announced just hours before the squad were due to meet up at their base in Marcoussis that the 62-cap La Rochelle star is out, alongside the uncapped duo of Lyon fly-half Léo Berdeu and Bordeaux-Begles back row Pierre Bochaton.
Atonio, 34, has been replaced by ASM Clermont Auvergne's 132kg uncapped tighthead Regis Montagne. The former France U20 international toured with Les Bleus in South America in July without playing. He will join the French camp alongside Antoine Hastoy, who has come in for Berdeu, and Cameron Woki, who replaces Bochaton.
Bordeaux's Sipili Falatea was the original option to replace Atonio, but the prop is also unavailable.
France take on Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina in November.
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Latest Comments
Yeah they obviously want to go away from the old approach of sink-or-swim, but I feel they have gone far to far towards ensure no one sinks by limiting their opportunities.
Aumua showed that if he has jittery starts he can warm himself into the game if you give him enough of a chance. I think Razor saw Steve Borthwick refuse to bring on his young bench in that two test series and construed that keeping the experienced guys on for near 80 minutes was the reason they finished better than the All Blacks in those goes.
Hopefully he has learned that's not the golden bullet approach now. Aumua, Darry, Finau, even Lakai, are likely going to be part of the future RWC team, so now is as good a time as any to start them in one of these big games coming up.
Go to commentsRieko and Jordie back is huge....light and day to any other 12/13 option. Please no TJP selection, but assume he will get one of the big tests unfortunately. Just rotate Ratima and Roigard for starting in the big tests...thats how it needs to roll going forward. Shame Lakai cant get in for Cane
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