Nice (AFP)
The third line Arthur Iturria "can go down a notch" to replace Paul Gabrillagues if the suspension of six weeks of the latter was confirmed, probably depriving him of participation in the World, said Thursday the assistant coach of the XV of France Jean -Baptist Elissalde.
The suspension of the second line for six weeks, if confirmed on appeal, "is not unacceptable, there will be discussion," said the coach of three quarters. However, emphasizing that the Parisian (26 years, 13 sel.) Would miss "the first three matches" of the group stage (against Argentina, the United States and Tonga).
"But indeed, there is Romain (Taofifenua, second reserve line), Arthur Iturria who can go down one notch to take another third line ...", emitted the former scrum half as replacement hypotheses if Gabrillagues was not included in the final list of 31 players, unveiled on September 2nd.
"There will be discussions, but for now we do not pull too many plans," added Elissalde.
Former second-line, Iturria was in the third line at the beginning of last season before experiencing a more complicated end of the year and injury to the warm-up of the final of Top 14.
Holder Saturday against Scotland, Clermont faces increased competition with reservists Charles Ollivon and Francois Cros, authors of a good performance the previous weekend in Nice against the same XV of Chardon (32-3).
Yacouba Camara, Wenceslas Lauret, hit on one thigh, and Bernard Le Roux, also second line but suspended until the end of the preparation, are the other candidate flankers in Japan (September 20th - November 2nd). The suspension of Gabrillagues could therefore make the happiness of one of them.
© 2019 AFP