The recent Lopez saga..

[FrenchFan]

Here is an intersting example of how things actually run btw clubs and Fed in the case of Lopez missing out on the last 6N game :

"With a knee injury during the Italy game, Lopez was replaced by Plisson at half time. On Tuesday and Wednesday he trained normally without protection, no straps. Until the medical staff from Clermont analysed the MRI the player had undergone late on Tuesday and decided to ring Lopez directly on Wed morning, without informing the staff of the national team, asking him to come back to Clermont immediately"

"Upset, Lopez discussed the issue with the tricolour staff and decided on Wed evening to go home for more tests and follow medical protocol and rest btw 4 to 6 weeks with the view of being fit again for the European 1/4 final agst Northampton (...) etc"

Sources quoted by journalist is an email sent out by the national team staff following "discussions btw Clermont medical team and FFr medical staff"

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Lopez-toute-une-histoire/544311

 

[Maverick1987]

Basically we need you for the quarters against Northampton so come back ....

 

[FrenchFan]

and they don't need you agst England..They've lost Parra (10 wks) Fofana (2wks) so Clermont are just basically pulling the plug..

 

[FrenchFan]

The war of words btw Clermont and FFr is getting louder as reported by rugby media. Clermont's head coach Frank Azema is talking about "lies and incompetence" from les Bleus staff regarding their judgement call on Lopez knee injury.

http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/6-nations/2015/tournoi-des-6-nations-azema-prend-la-defense-de- lopez-et-tacle-le-staff-des-bleus_sto4646065/story.shtml

"They're lying or they're incompetence. I'm not sure. All I know is that their medical staff says the player is fit when the diagnosis from all doctors we consulted with says otherwise (...). I'm surprised and disappointed that our player is caught between a rock and a hard place. Camille doesn't have to choose btw club and country. He is injured. Our decision is based on his welfare (...). We're not asking him to make a choice here. Given the risk on his exposed cruciate ligament that could snap according to specialist medical advice, I can't see why he was in training. Maybe they were trying his luck. However We do not play around with the physical integrity of our players." (Azema)

"He trained and kicked very well in training. Our medical staff says he is fit". (Saint-André)

And Saint-André now suggests Lopez may not make the WC list after all.

"At international level, it's better if you are picked to play. Jules Plisson is 200% fit. Full of confidence. Tales is back in the group. This is our last game before the list of 36 is announced. No more time for questions.."

This is what I meant when I said we were bound to see fireworks btw clubs and FFr over the national team. Here it is.
http://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/33513-Brief-digression-PSA-era-France?p=656122&viewfull=1#post656122

And how the 30 players protected list is just a farce and a scam (oddly Lopez is still not even on that list :huh

PSA and even Blanco FFR vice president are powerless agst one club. Clermont demanded Lopez be back. Back he is. End of story. Clermont got their way in a big way. He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tunes.

There will be no reconciliation btw clubs and FFr. After the WC FFr will appoint another head coach and in typical fashion walk away.