France could be without a backrow for Saturday !!!!!

I do not know if anybody has posted this yet, but as the title states, France could be without Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy and Thierry Dusautoir for Wales's grand slam decider on Saturday, they might also loose Vincent Clerc to injury as well. The full story is below:-

France coach Philippe Saint-André has added six new faces to his Six Nations squad ahead of Saturday's clash with Wales in Cardiff.



19-year-old Clermont full-back Jean-Marcellin Buttin gets his first call up while there are recalls for Toulon wing Alexis Palisson, Toulouse centre Florain Fritz, Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili, Clermont lock Julien Pierre and Montpellier flank Fulgence Ouedraogo.


Lionel Nallet, Julien Dupuy, Maxime Mermoz and Julien Malzieu have been dropped while Vincent Clerc has been ruled out after dislocating his shoulder against England.


Saint-André added that there were injury doubts over loose forwards Julien Bonnaire (elbow), Thierry Dusautoir (knee) and Imanol Harinordoquy (knee).


The squad announcement signals the end of former skipper Nallet's international career.


Yachvili returns to the squad for the first time since the opening game, having recovered from a back injury while Fritz - a notable absentee from the initial Six nations squad - gets his first call up since June 2010.,


Saint-André will confirm his starting line-up for the clash at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday.



"I am still surprised. It's crazy," Buttin told Midi Olympique.


"I do not know what to say. I'm confused, everything has moved very fast but I'm really happy.


"Now I must pack my bags in a hurry before going to the airport. Last season, I was not even sure of have a place in the Under-20s and I did not expect to have as much playing time with Clermont but they received one injury after another. Now, I cannot wait to be there and show the selectors they were right. "

It's not necessarily good news for wales either...!

Oh no the french are in dissarray, they have injury problems and have just been beaten badly, they look shockingly bad and won't stand a chance against what we're going to do to them...

Hang on why does this sound familiar?

This isn't good news.....

If the French come to Cardiff with their big guns, then I would favour Wales. Why ? Well the French have nothing to play for, they cant win anything and as such, wont be ar$ed.

However, if they bring "fringe" players, players who have a point to prove, players who want to make a claim on the jersey, then its GAME ON....

This may be a very very clever move by Napoleon himself ....

Well Picamole aint a bad replacement at 8.

Oudrago at 7?

Have a bit of optimism guys, France are a good side and yes they could throw the ball around and look dangerous, but its nothing Wales haven't seen before, and they can't play any worse than they did in the Semi's at the WC can they. Wales a re a good side, lets have some faith and say "Yes we can put this side away and win the grand slam and go onto to bigger and better things". That's not arrogance that's just confidence in a good looking exciting Welsh side.

It's a confidence I'm not afforded!

Sadly most Welsh performances tend to be built on sand, and just one dumb move by the WRU and it all comes crashing down and sets us back 5 years.

I will celebrate and gloat if we win but for now, I will look on with pesimistic goggles!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well Picamole aint a bad replacement at 8.

Oudrago at 7?

More like their best 8 and one of the best in the world! He should have been starting every game for France so far.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Oh no the french are in dissarray, they have injury problems and have just been beaten badly, they look shockingly bad and won't stand a chance against what we're going to do to them...

Hang on why does this sound familiar?

Waiting for the French 'it's only Wales' comment again

martyr_94 wrote:Have a bit of optimism guys, France are a good side and yes they could throw the ball around and look dangerous, but its nothing Wales haven't seen before, and they can't play any worse than they did in the Semi's at the WC can they. Wales a re a good side, lets have some faith and say "Yes we can put this side away and win the grand slam and go onto to bigger and better things". That's not arrogance that's just confidence in a good looking exciting Welsh side.

I lack confidence until the kick off or even after the first ten minutes with this side because it is hard to get used to how talented they are..

I am looking forward to what will hopefully be a titanic contest and a wonderful finale. If Wales win then obviously we will all be ecstatic, if Wales lose to an excellent side then so be it.

I do take confidence that this Welsh team do not lose to sides weaker than them anymore.

I do not know if anybody has posted this yet...

Actually someone has, twice:
https://www.606v2.com/t25735-french-backrow-injury-concerns
https://www.606v2.com/t25749-whole-french-back-row-doubtful

Mods! Anyone care to merge?

By "without a backrow" do you mean still with a backrow that is likely to be no worse, due to France's strength in depth?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well Picamole aint a bad replacement at 8.

Oudrago at 7?

More like their best 8 and one of the best in the world! He should have been starting every game for France so far.

Damn straight! I don't know why he hasn't been starting but he is a machine! He made an immediate impact every time he came on this 6 nations.

Maes, "I do take confidence that this Welsh team do not lose to sides weaker than them anymore."

Is a moot point. Until Warburton had his brain fart last October, who were the better side? Many might argue they were better afterwards as well.

munkian wrote:Waiting for the French 'it's only Wales' comment again

You mean the one where Ellisalde, when asked whether they feared playing away to the Welsh (going for the Grand Slam in 2008), he said no as it's only the Welsh and they have a lot of experience going there. It's not like the SH side where they don't visit as often. The one that was completely blown out of proportion by the media and, it seems, is still brought up every now and then.

Whatever it was intended to mean it seemed to work though. Fair enough if he said - we are used to playing there. The 'its only the Welsh' part rang of arrogance

Yeah, its only the welsh, its not Tonga after all

That Buttin lad has some skills, be interesting to see how he gets on if dropped straight into the first team. He can't be worse than Poitrenaud who is probably the most mecurial player ever, one minute amazing the next minute woeful.