Marcoussis (France) (AFP)
The captain of the XV of France Guilhem Guirado, only replacing Friday against Italy "remains the leader" of the Blues, assured Wednesday the coach Jacques Brunel before the last match of preparation to the World Cup.
"Guilhem remains the leader of this team, this group is undeniable," said Marcoussis Brunel, who established Camille Chat as hooker and chose the left pillar Jefferson Poirot as captain.
Poirot had already led the Blues in the first warm-up match against Scotland (32-3), for which Guirado was out of action due to rib pain.
"It's almost over," Brunel said of the recurring physical problem since the Six Nations Tournament. "He was still embarrassed at the beginning of the week but it's benign," says the Gersois.
If Guirado will start on the bench on Friday at the Stade de France, it is not to spare but in the idea of a reworked team that will chained meetings in Japan (21 September-2 November), "with very matches close and diverse possibilities in the team composition, "explained the coach.
"The compo today does not bode the composition that will be September 20" for the first game against Argentina, said Brunel, asked about the performance of Chat. "Camille showed some good intentions, he made a good start last weekend" in place of Guirado in Scotland (defeated 17-14), he commented.
Captain since the beginning of the previous coach Guy Novès in 2016, Guirado was confirmed in this position in February after the correction received in England (44-8). According to L'Equipe, the vice-president of the Federation (FFR) Serge Simon had then tried to promote Poirot.
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