France face fullback crisis after latest injury setback
SQUAD UPDATE: The French Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday that Cheick Tiberghien has been ruled out of this month’s three Tests with New Zealand to diminish Fabien Galthie’s options at fullback.
Bayonne’s Tiberghien was expected to start Saturday’s first Test with the All Blacks in Dunedin after an impressive club campaign and with Leo Barre suffering from a dead leg.
Tiberghien, 25, has been replaced by fellow uncapped fullback in Toulon’s Marius Domon, who can also feature at flyhalf.
Galthie’s only remaining fit option for the No.15 shirt, with Tom Spring also a doubt, is Theo Attissogbe, who has more experience on the wing.
Former Les Bleus captain Galthie has named a second-string squad for the three Tests, deciding to rest key players such as No.8 Gregory Alldritt and fullback Thomas Ramos.
Regular captain Antoine Dupont as well as flyhalf Romain Ntamack are injured, with experienced centre Gael Fickou skippering the side.
Galthie names his side for this weekend’s Test on Thursday.
The second Test takes place on July 12 in Wellington and the third match in Hamilton a week later.
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