Pillar Uini Atonio and third row Anthony Jelonch, not selected in the group to face Japan on Saturday, are among the 14 players left available to their clubs this weekend, the FFR announced on Thursday.
Ollivon and Serin reservists
The experienced right-hander Atonio (34 years old, 62 caps), injured in a calf, was present in Marcoussis this week but had been preserved in training. In his absence, the young (22 years old) right pillar Tevita Tatafu will experience his first cape with the Blues.
Jelonch, who returned to the French team after a serious knee injury in January, had already been released last weekend to play the Top 14 match with Toulouse.
Racing 92 second row Romain Taofifenua, usual replacement for the Blues, will also leave Marcoussis.
However, they will not play this weekend, the Top 14 taking a break for two weeks, and could be recalled at the end of the week to prepare for the Blues’ next meeting against New Zealand, Saturday November 16.
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Third row Charles Ollivon, scrum half Baptiste Serin and Lyon pillar Sébastien Taofifenua remain at Marcoussis as reserves, as do UBB fullback Romain Buros and Castres hooker Gaëtan Barlot.
The 14 players released by the XV of France
Uini Atonio (La Rochelle, 34 years, 62 years), Théo Attissogbe (Pau, 19 years, 2 years), Léo Berdeu (Lyon, 26 years, 0 years), Pierre Bochaton (UBB, 23 years, 0 years .), Paul Costes (Toulouse, 21 years, 0 years), Léon Darricarrère (Clermont, 20 years, 0 years), Antoine Frisch (Toulon, 28 years, 2 years), Marko Gazzotti (UBB, 20 years, 0 years), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse, 28 years, 29 years), Matthis Lebel (Toulouse, 25 years, 6 years), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier, 20 years, 2 years), Romain Taofifenua (Racing 92, 34 ans, 52 years), Killian Tixeront (Clermont, 22 years, 1 year), Gabin Villière (Toulon, 28 years, 16 years)
