The French XV will have to do without Romain Taofifenua for the first meeting of the year next week. The second row of Racing 92, affected during Racing 92's victory against the Stormers (31-22) on Saturday, is replaced by Lyonnais Mickaël Guillard, the French Rugby Federation announced on Sunday.
Taofifenua (34 years old, 53 caps), came out in the 45the minute Saturday, and appeared with an ice pack on one knee, even if his coach Stuart Lancaster wanted to be reassuring after the match.
Guillard returns with the Blues
Mickaël Guillard (24 years old, 5 caps) was his replacement during the last three matches of the Blues this fall, for three victories against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. Injured in an ankle at the end of November with the Rhone club, Guillard has not played again since this injury.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey forfeits with UBB on Sunday
Union Bordeaux-Bègles international winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey withdrew on Sunday just before the Sharks received the Champions Cup (66-12 victory for the Girondins), a victim of “dizziness” according to the Girondin staff.
-Bielle-Biarrey, present during his team's setup on Saturday, did not participate in the pre-match warm-up and suffers from an inner ear problem. “He’s not well, he can’t play,” said a member of the staff.
The French XV faces Wales in the opening of the 6 Nations Tournament on January 31 (9:15 p.m.) at the Stade de France.
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