France rugby squad selection for Fiji match and Toulouse half-back shortage, Digi Mart USA News (Lyon, France): Fabien Galthié unveiled France’s team on Thursday to face Fiji on Saturday at 9 p.m. local time in Lyon, the opening match of the second phase of the Nations Championship.
The French Rugby Federation also announced five reserves who can enter the match-day squad if a starter withdraws at the last minute. They are Guillaume Cramont (Bayonne), Thomas Laclayat (Pau), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Paul Graou (Toulouse) and Axel Desperes (Pau).
With Antoine Dupont and Paul Graou selected for the France squad, Stade Toulousain will be left thin at scrum-half for Saturday’s match against Clermont at 2:30 p.m., as part of Round 9 of the Top 14. Coach Ugo Mola and his staff have only young Simon Darroque available in the number 9 position.
Other France group players released by the staff and eligible for Round 9 of the Top 14 include Hugo Auradou (Pau), Tyler Duguid (Montpellier), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Charles Kanté Samba (La Rochelle), Théo Forner (Perpignan), Léon Darricarrère (Clermont), Louis Le Brun (Castres), Nicolas Depoortere and Damian Penaud (UBB), Tani Vili and Léo Barré (Stade Français), Mathis Ferté (Toulon) and Antoine Deliance (Lyon).
Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), who suffered a rib injury at Marcoussis, has been ruled out.
