France duo ruled out of Wallabies showdown
NEWS: Centre Pierre-Louis Barassi and flank Paul Boudehent, injured in the win over Fiji, will miss next week’s Test against Australia, after being left out of France’s 42-man squad on Sunday.
Barassi started Saturday’s match in Bordeaux strongly but was forced off after 14 minutes with a concussion following a high tackle by Fijian winger Selestino Ravutaumada.
He did not respond favourably to the concussion protocol and cannot play against the Wallabies. He is replaced by his uncapped 20-year-old Toulouse teammate Kalvin Gourgues.
Loose forward Boudehent came off the bench in the 30th minute when Barrasi’s replacement, Emilien Gailleton, retired injured, forcing flanker Oscar Jegou into the centres.
Boudehent then limped off early in the second half with a knee injury. He is replaced in the squad by 21-year-old Montpellier flank Lenni Nouchi.
Gailleton is still part of the squad.
France bounced back from defeat to South Africa, and ended a four-match losing streak, by holding off a spirited Fiji side 34-21.
They face Australia at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday even