Uini Atonio will not be fielded during France-Japan: here’s why

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Called in as reinforcements at the start of the week after Régis Montagne’s package, Win Anthony will not be fielded in the first match of the autumn tour of the XV of France facing the Japanscheduled for Saturday November 9 (9:10 p.m.) at the Stade de France.

Calf discomfort

Present in the first list of 42, Uini Atonio (34 years old; 62 caps) had been released and made available to his club in order to treat a small glitch in his calf. The Blues staff were counting on the presence of Atonio for the clash against the All Blacks.

Still bothered by one of his calvesUini Atonio did not participate in this Wednesday’s collective session with the XV of France. And as Fabien Galthié has always said, if a player is not 100% the day before the team composition is announced, he has no chance of being there.

First for Tatafu?

Also facing Japan, only 14^e in the world rankings, will not lead to risk-taking on the part of the staff of the XV of France regarding Uini Atonio.

It is the Bayonnais Tevita Tatafu, on whom William Servat has high hopes, who should start for his first cape in Blue. Called up for the summer tour, he was not lined up, not yet being eligible. George-Henri Colombe should be his understudy on the substitutes’ bench this Saturday.

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