Chabal, Jauzion and Poitrenaud axed

[TRF_Cymro]

Sebastien Chabal, Yannick Jauzion and Clement Poitrenaud have been omitted from France's provisional 32-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.

http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/story/139643.html​

Provisional France Rugby World Cup squad:

Forwards - William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro 92), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse/Cap), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Raphaël Lakafia (Biarritz), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)

Backs - Morgan Parra (Clermont), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), David Skrela (Toulouse), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Fabrice Estebanez (Brive), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Bayonne), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz)

 

[dangandan]

not too surprised by the exclusion of Chabal and Jauzion as they've been off the pace recently but Poitrenaud is one i thought would've been included. considering Rougerie is now injured i'd like to have Poitrenaud back in as he can cover centre, fullback and he has the pace for the wing as well i think.

 

[monkeypigeon]

not too surprised by the exclusion of Chabal and Jauzion as they've been off the pace recently but Poitrenaud is one i thought would've been included. considering Rougerie is now injured i'd like to have Poitrenaud back in as he can cover centre, fullback and he has the pace for the wing as well i think.

Agree about Chabal and Jauzion but disagree about Poitrenaud. He's grand for the 6 Nations where the French just win every second or third year, but a World Cup comes around only every 4 years and Poitenaud is. consistently ...wait for it.... flakey. You just know he's the guy who'll do the something stupid to get you knocked out of the WC.

 

[dangandan]

yeah that's true but then doesn't that mean there can be an equal chance he'll produce brilliance? na i am with you that he is flaky and i wouldn't have him starting but he's a quality player to have in the squad. i actually really wanted to see Malzieu in the squad but i don't know if he can cover centre.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

So only two people from that squad gets dropped then for the RWC, harsh lines for those two.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I knew Chabal wouldn't be in, but got shot down when I mentioned it before :lol:

I believe I also said that Picmoles should be in there for him, and it looks likes that's what happened

 

[cyRil]

I knew Chabal wouldn't be in, but got shot down when I mentioned it before :lol:

I believe I also said that Picmoles should be in there for him, and it looks likes that's what happened

I can't unzip your fly quickly enough!!

 

[nickdnz]

No Chabal, Jauzion or Bastareaud...will anyone be watching France play? Very happy to see Heymans in there.

 

[DonBilly]

The players called and their clubs.

Biarritz Olympique is very well represented.

 

[nickdnz]

Any idea if Yannick Nyanga was in the frame for selection. Thought he was playing well again for Toulouse...

 

[DonBilly]

Any idea if Yannick Nyanga was in the frame for selection. Thought he was playing well again for Toulouse...

Well he could have replaced Oueadrogo but he has not been playing for France for some time and priority was given to a player that has been much more involved.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Pretty shocked to see Poitrenaud dropped. That man just typifies French rugby.

 

[Charles]

Happy to see Heymans Oueadrogo, Picamoles and Lakafia in there. Jauzion deseved a better end...

Rougerie (injured) instead of Fritz is a travesty, as is Marty instead of Poitrenaud. Marconnet should not be there either...Estebanez...

It doesn't matter much in the end because we're gonna lose to England in the QF's...

 

[psychic duck]

Any idea if Yannick Nyanga was in the frame for selection. Thought he was playing well again for Toulouse...

yes, I always thought Nyanga was good but he's been ignored by Lievremont, and never even been called up to a squad

Jauzion deseved a better end...

class player, I didn't think he did that much wrong in the 6N, at least not to finish his international career

better than Estebanez and Traille

 

[nickdnz]

Happy to see Heymans Oueadrogo, Picamoles and Lakafia in there. Jauzion deseved a better end...

Rougerie (injured) instead of Fritz is a travesty, as is Marty instead of Poitrenaud. Marconnet should not be there either...Estebanez...

It doesn't matter much in the end because we're gonna lose to England in the QF's...

Agree with that. He wasn't the player he was 3-4 years ago, but it's not the way you want to finish off a great career. Quite a few of the calls perplex me.

 

[lucky number 7]

Mental.. Chabal I was 100 % sure would be selected due to the sheer weight of public opinion :/

 

[Amobokoboko]

No Chabal, Jauzion or Bastareaud...will anyone be watching France play? Very happy to see Heymans in there.

I think they will be watching Italy ( with most of their players playing in France)

 

[superrprop]

Thought poitrenaud would be there and bastareaud just for the smaller games.

 

[Darwin]

The most interesting thing about the 32-man squad is that there are 6 props, but only two hookers and two halfbacks. While most teams will look to take 3 hookers and 3 halfbacks, it looks like France will only take two of each. I'm assuming one of the props is able to cover hooker, and one of the other backs is capable of playing halfback? To make a 30-man squad, one of the props will drop out (probably Marconnet?), as well as one of the loose-forwards or outside backs.

Good to see Chabal dropped and Picamoles included; Picamoles has always impressed me. Also good to see Heymans back as well, as he's always looked dangerous to me (especially when playing NZ).

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Barcella and Domingo are both injured and their fitness come WC time is in doubt. Hence the reason of that many props. One of the looseheads will be dropped, probably Poux or Marconnet if the other two are fit. And if neither of them is fit, another callup will be probably made.
Rougérie is also injured, so his callup is pending on fitness.

So, the two dropped players will be a LHP and a back, probably the injured, but if not... I don't see which back to drop, that will be a hard decision if Rougérie is fit.

Non of the props can play hooker that I know of. And I think Estebanez can cover 9, but I'm not sure (I think he played there back in 2010?)