Fujiyoshida (Japan) (AFP)
The XV of France will have to do without Wesley Fofana, one of his leaders of attack, for the first match of the World Cup, already decisive, Saturday against Argentina? The hypothesis took the thickness Monday, since the Clermontois was absent from the collective training of the afternoon.
Fofana (31 years old, 48 sel.) Is handicapped by a pain in one thigh, the same member who handicaps him regularly: he had thus forfeited at the last minute for the second preparation game at the World Cup in Scotland on August 24th. (14-17), as at the closing of the Six Nations Tournament in Italy (25-14 on March 16). He was supposed to make his comeback after missing the previous three meetings of the competition.
On Monday, he was not present with his teammates at the Fuji Park Hokuroku field in Fujiyoshida during the 20 minutes open to the press. He then stepped on the pitch, but away from his teammates (as in the morning) pursuing his reathlisation in the company of physical trainer Nicolas Jeanjean.
Jefferson Poirot, who has returned to collective training as Demba Bamba and Grégory Alldritt, also spared at the end of last week, said he was optimistic about Fofana: "It's on the right track. resuming support with Nico, made contact, he seemed to be good, I think it's (his comeback) for not in a long time, I hope. "
His absence for the group session of the afternoon, during which the Blues have repeated intensively their scales, however, makes his presence very uncertain on Saturday. While the coach Jacques Brunel had indicated last Saturday, his eventual participation would be decided Monday, precisely.
- Who at the opening? -
In the event that Fofana, the only true center of the group's business, is left behind, two options to replace him are offered to coach Jacques Brunel, who will announce the starting team on Thursday morning.
The first would be to start Gaël Fickou, plus a second center. This solution was favored after the Fofana package in Scotland, which had been numerically replaced by Sofiane Guitoune.
The second would be to line up Romain Ntamack, who has however experienced five of his eight selections at the opening. And has, moreover, been tenured only once at the center, for its international debut in February.
Since then, the staff considers him more like an opener, even though he came into play in the center instead of ... Fofana in the first game of preparation, August 17 against Scotland (32-3).
The appointment of Ntamack would in any case settle the question of the position of opener, which would be occupied by Camille Lopez.
Otherwise, will the staff trust the Clermontois, holder in the first two rounds of warm-up at the World Cup but out of efficiency against the goal (50% success in the victory against Scotland)? Or Toulousain, who started only the last against the Italians (47-19 August 30) but was much more skillful in the exercise (5/6)?
- Iturria to the 2nd line -
This is the main question, apart from the one surrounding the participation of Fofana, which necessarily has repercussions on the overall architecture of the pair of centers.
If he plays, he should be associated with Fickou, who should be aligned with Ntamack if he replaces Fofana.
On the other hand, if Fickou replaces Fofana, the staff should choose between Guitoune and Virimi Vakatawa for the second center position.
Still behind, Yoann Huget now seems to leave with a head start, for the position of second winger, on Alivereti Raka, after his excellent performance against Italy.
And ahead, the Ollivon-Alldritt-Lauret trio should be the third line, to let Arthur Iturria evolve a notch higher, alongside Sebastien Vahaamahina. In the absence of Paul Gabrillagues (suspended), the staff can also start Bernard Le Roux, denser physically, but the Racingman has not played for four and a half months. A risky bet.
Finally, on the front line, Brunel doubtless lifted on Saturday, the doubt surrounding the tenure of Captain Guilhem Guirado, indicating that tailgating was not part of the positions where uncertainty remained.
© 2019 AFP