FRANCE HAVE BEEN dealt another blow in an increasingly nightmarish Six Nations campaign, with scrum-half Morgan Parra ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
The Clermont playmaker was excellent off the bench in France’s defeat to Ireland, before starting last weekend’s home loss to Wales.
Parra was forced off after 51 minutes of the 20-13 defeat in Paris, however, and his club have confirmed that he will be sidelined for 10 weeks having ruptured the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Sébastien Tillous-Borde replaced Parra at Stade de France on Saturday, and now appears to be the likely starter for France’s visit to Italy on 15 March, with Castres man Rory Kockott discarded following the loss to Ireland.
Of further disappointment to France, centre Wesley Fofana suffered a hamstring injury against Wales last weekend and now appears certain to miss the fixture against Italy.
There is also doubt around Fofana’s involvement in France’s final-day visit to England on 21 March, with Clermont giving him a two to three week timeframe for recovery.
Rémi Lamerat, who started at 13 against Wales but was forced off with just 17 minutes played, has already been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a thigh injury.
Head coach Phillipe Saint-André’s awful few days have been made complete by some stinging criticism from the media and former France internationals since Saturday’s loss to Wales.
This morning’s Midi Olympique led with a front-page image of Saint-André and the headline question ‘Can he stay on?’
The resounding answer from supporters, journalists and ex-players seems to be that Saint-André must go.
