France’s Noves concerned as another guy injured

AFTER suffering their second bruising defeat to a reinvigorated Springboks side, France coach Guy Noves now has some more headaches to deal with ahead of the final, dead-rubber, Test in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Having juggled with selections over the two matches, he may well be forced into some injury changes this week for the final Test

Three players sat out of training yesterday, which took place at their Durban base at Northwood School as the French side continues to soak up as much winter sun as they can.

The visitors will travel up to the Highveld tomorrow, after naming their team in Durban to play at Ellis Park

Barging No 8 Louis Picamoles, the experienced Yoann Huget, as well as up-and-coming young hooker Camille Chat are all under observation as they try and prove their fitness before the final game.

Picamoles is suffering from a knee injury picked up in Durban, while Chat is still not over an injured foot that kept him out of the match day squad for the last game.

Huget has a cut inside his mouth that has kept him out of contact.

With Noves making a number of changes from the first game to the second, in the hopes of strengthening the side, it seems as if he had settled on his best available team in the Durban Test.

It would thus be a huge blow to the French effort to regain some pride, and to avoid a whitewash, if these players are not declared fit in time.

Picamoles, as well as Huget, are instrumental for Noves, having started both games, and with the No 8 nominated as one of the players of the Six Nations and the winger providing a lot of go forward, along with the hulking Vermi Vakatawa on the other wing.