The end of bad news for the XV of France?

The French Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday February 23 that no additional case of Covid-19 had been detected in the Blues following tests carried out on Monday evening.

The organizing committee of the Six Nations Tournament must decide on Wednesday on a possible postponement of France-Scotland because of the health situation.

The respite would be welcome for the Blues, on whom bad news has rained in recent days as their third match of the tournament approaches, Sunday, against Scotland at the Stade de France.

These results concern members of the management and players who had not tested positive

- France Rugby (@FranceRugby) February 23, 2021

After coach Fabien Galthié, star scrum half Antoine Dupont and several other team executives, five new players including captain Charles Ollivon have tested positive for Covid-19 and invited Monday to go into isolation.

In total, fourteen cases have been identified across the group, players and staff alike, since France's victory in Ireland (15-13) on February 14.

Scotland does not want a postponement

The Blues are deprived, to face Scotland, of more than half of their holders since the start of the tournament, of which they are leaders after the first two days.

"I recommended that the match not take place", explained on RTL Professor Éric Caumes, infectious disease specialist at Pitié-Salpêtrière and associate member of the FFR medical committee.

"I think the conditions are not right for the match to take place, first for medical reasons and then for fairness, because many key players of the France team are absent. They (at the FFR ) think we can play. Who is going to decide? I don't know, I just gave a punctual opinion, it is not me who decides. "

The organizing committee of the competition must make its decision on Wednesday about a possible postponement.

A prospect that hardly enchants the Scottish Rugby Federation, which said Monday evening that a postponement would have consequences on the availability of its players and that such a decision would therefore break the equity on their side.

Scottish Rugby statement ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/fNpk7wt93E

- Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 22, 2021

The French Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, for her part, spoke on Monday with the president of the FFR, Bernard Laporte, and "asked that his cabinet be sent a daily report on the results of the members of the delegation. French, who are now tested every evening, "according to a message sent to AFP.

With AFP

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