XV of France – Exclusive Midol: Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92) towards a package for the test match against Japan

Regarding Nolann Le Garrec, absent from training this Saturday morning in Marcoussis, the performance director of the French XV Nicolas Jeanjean wanted to be very reassuring this Saturday noon at a press conference. “He suffered a shock on his knee during training on Friday. We weren't very worried. He was walking, everything was fine. We even almost allowed him to participate in training this morning (Saturday). But we preferred not to take any risks and check the condition of the bruise.” According to our information, the news is however more worrying concerning the scrum half of Racing and the XV of France: the examinations carried out revealed a slight sprain in one knee. He sera absent from the field for dix days, at least. A delay which automatically excludes him from the test match against Japan, Saturday November 9 at the Stade de France (21 h 10). His presence against the All Blacks, a week later (November 16 at the Stade de France) is also subject to uncertainty, if the recovery time were to stretch.

Lucu “promoted” replacement, Couilloud or Serin called

If Nolann Le Garrec did not start as a potential starter for these fall test matches, with the return of captain Antoine Dupont who will also resume his number 9 jersey, the Racingman was a talented asset in Fabien's hand Galthié and his staff.

In the absence of Dupont, Le Garrec had actually taken advantage of the last 6 Nations Tournament (2024) to claim the rank of number 2, in the hierarchy of scrum halves. He had to SO start with replacement statusalso allowing a possible “6-2” on the bench (6 forwards, 2 three-quarters) with Le Garrec who enters and Dupont who slips into flyhalf during the match.

In his absence, Bordeaux's Maxime Lucu should be “promoted” to the substitutes' bench against Japan. Numerically, in the list of 42 players who will train next week in Marcoussis, Le Garrec will be replaced by Baptiste Serin (Toulon) or Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon). The official list will be communicated this Sunday.