Saint-Denis (AFP)
Guilhem Guirado, captain of the XV of France, will stop his international career after the World Cup in Japan (20 September - 2 November), Sofiane Guitoune said Saturday after the victory over Italy (47-19) in the last match of preparation.
Asked about the atmosphere in the locker room at the Stade de France, the three-quarter Toulouse probably committed a blunder. "At the end of the match, Loulou (Picamoles) and Guilhem (Guirado) took the floor, saying that it was their last match in the French team in France, so obviously there was emotion", a- he declared.
However, if Picamoles (33 years old, 79 caps) confirmed at the same time that he had played his "last match" in Saint-Denis, and therefore he would not apply for a place for the Six Nations 2020 Tournament, Guirado (33 years, 70 capes) has not yet said if he would stop with the Blues in the wake of the World Cup.
The hooker, who just left Toulon to finish his career in Montpellier, was only replacing Camille Chat against the Italians. Coach Jacques Brunel said Wednesday he was still the "leader" of the XV of France, without pronouncing the word captain. Asked about it, the left pillar Jefferson Poirot, appointed captain in his place, said Thursday that Guirado was for him always the real captain of the Blues.
Brunel will give Monday his list of 31 players for Japan, where a crucial first appointment awaits his team on September 21 against Argentina.
© 2019 AFP