Alldritt's statement after surprise France Six Nations omission
TOP 14 FRIDAY WRAP: Back-row Gregory Alldritt said on Friday exams on a knee problem next week led to his strange exclusion from France’s Six Nations squad despite scoring twice in La Rochelle’s 40-3 home win over Bayonne.
Alldritt, who started seven Tests last year, was replaced in the set-up by Cameron Woki on Thursday 24 hours before being named in his club’s starting line up for the league victory.
The No. 8, who starred as La Rochelle returned to the Top 14 summit, will miss the training camp in Nice but could be back for the tournament opener on February 6 at Italy.
“On Monday I’ll have a test, normally it will take a few days to heal because it’s important to join the national team at 100 percent ,” he told Canal+.
“It shouldn’t be too long. It wasn’t an easy decision to take. I’ll do the exams, work hard and be ready if the staff need me again,” he added.
At Stade Marcel-Deflandre, where the Basque visitors last won in 2011, suffered their fifth straight defeat in torrential rain and remain in 12th place.
Scrum-half Thomas Berjon and hooker Pierre Bourgarit, who will join up with les Bleus’ set-up next week, also scored as former New Zealand Maori flyhalf Ihaia West kicked eight points.
They were also handed a penalty try after the Basques collapsed a rolling maul during the second half in testing conditions with incessant downfall on the west coast.
Bourgarit moved alongside Toulouse winger Matthis Lebel as the league’s leading scorer with eight thanks to his double.
On Saturday, the former leaders welcome South Africa’s World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe back for the trip to bottom side Agen.
Kolbe last played in December 11’s win at Ulster after suffering a finger injury.
Elsewhere, Scotland fly-half Finn Russell makes his 50th Racing 92 appearance as they host Bordeaux-Begles.
Former England U20s winger Gabriel Ibitoye makes his debut for struggling Montpellier as they welcome Lyon.
On Sunday Eben Etzebeth’s Toulon entertain Stade Francais and Brive head to Pau.
Friday’s result:
La Rochelle 40 Bayonne 3
Saturday Fixtures:
Racing 92 v Bordeaux-Begles
Clermont v Castres
Agen v Toulouse
Montpellier v Lyon
Sunday’s fixtures:
Pau v Brive
Toulon v Stade Francais
