France's bizarre campaign takes another twist as call-up is away on holiday
France’s bizarre 2019 Six Nations campaign took another strange twist on Tuesday when they called a player into the squad to face England who is away on holiday and unavailable for training until Thursday.
Jacques Brunel would have learned on Sunday that the cruciate ligament rupture suffered by Julien Marchand in the opening round loss to Wales required an operation, ruling him out of the remainder of the tournament and the rest of his club season with Toulouse.
Marchand came on in the 58th minute to replace skipper Guilhem Guirado at hooker in the Six Nations opener they went on to lose 24-19 after squandering a 0-16 half-time lead. However, Marchand’s replacement Camille Chat, the Racing 92 No2, won’t be able to link up with the French squad at Marcoussis until Thursday as he is away on holiday.
Chat’s unavailability until three days before the round two game at Twickenham is the latest weird situation to emerge from a French camp suffering a crisis of confidence after losing nine of their outings since Brunel took charge following the December 2017 sacking of Guy Noves.
? Après #FRAPDG, Julien Marchand (@StadeToulousain) est forfait et a rejoint son club pour se faire opérer.
Il est remplacé dans le groupe par @chatbranger (@racing92) #NeFaisonsXV #XVdeFrance pic.twitter.com/5m9tktqhHd
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 5, 2019
In the aftermath of their opening night defeat to Wales, second row Sebastien Vahaamahina revealed that it wasn’t until he was told by referee Waynes Barnes that he learned he had become his team’s on-pitch captain following Guirado’s substitution.
“I did not even know I was a captain,” Vahaamahina told Midi Olympique in the aftermath of a defeat that he contributed massively to as it was his ill-advised pass that gifted George North the interception for the winning try.
“It was the referee who came to see me on a penalty to ask me my choice. I told him to address the captain. He said it was me. The staff did not warn me.”
France’s inability to immediately summon a replacement for Marchand to training contrasts with the situation this week in some rival countries.
Ireland called in Billy Holland for training on Monday after Devin Toner picked up an ankle problem in their Saturday loss to England that has ruled him out of their round two game at Scotland.
Comments on RugbyPass
Marler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to comments