Laharrague dropped for no-show
France coach Bernard Laporte has dropped Julien Laharrague from the XV that will faced New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday after the wing and his brother, Nicolas, showed up late for a training session.
Bourgoin wing Jean-Francois Coux, a late replacement for the touring squad when Pepito Elhorga pulled out with a knee injury, duly steps up for his first cap.
Whilst Julien Laharrague misses out altogether, the dearth of fit French fly-halves means that Nicolas Laharrague hangs on to his place on the bench.
“Yesterday [Wednesday] there was a clear delay in their arrival for a video and training session by both the Laharrague brothers,” said France manager Jo Maso.
“We have given them a light punishment, but they will both stay on the tour.
“It is a fundamental rule of respect for the group.
“They said that they thought the session started at 1530 when in fact it began at 1500.
“We noticed they were missing from the video session and we left without waiting for them for training, otherwise we wouldn’t have got out to it.”
