Raka, Vakatawa named in France 31
France head coach Jacques Brunel dropped lock Felix Lambey and prop Dany Priso from his final Rugby World Cup squad on Tuesday.
And Fijian flyers Virimi Vakatawa and Alivereti Raka have been included.
Brunel had originally named the pair, both 25, in his 31-man group to prepare for the tournament during the summer, but replaced them with Toulon’s Charles Ollivon and Toulouse’s Cyril Baille.
The former Italy boss Brunel said he had chosen Ollivon and Baille due to their displays in the warmup Tests against Scotland and Italy in August.
“When I had to make the choice Felix was a bit behind with his preparation and the matches. The loose-forwards was the hardest position,” Brunel said.
“Cyril arrived in the middle of our preparation. He made a big effort to get up to the required level. It’s without a doubt his performances during the matches which made the difference with our decisions.
“We took players who proposed good things during the preparation,” he added.
On Sunday RMC Sport reported the most experienced member of the side, Louis Picamoles with 79 Test caps to his name, was to be excluded but Brunel said the No. 8’s inclusion was down to his display in the 47-19 victory over the Azzurri on Friday.
Les Bleus start their campaign against Argentina before facing the US, Tonga and England in their pool.
FRANCE WORLD CUP SQUAD
Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Yacouba Camara, Arthur Iturria, Charles Ollivon, Wenceslas Lauret, Louis Picamoles, Paul Gabrillagues, Bernard Le, Sebastien Vahaamahina , Demba Bamba, Emerick Setiano, Rabah Slimani, Camille Chat, Guilhem Guirado, Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille, Jefferson Poirot.
Backs: Maxime Medard, Thomas Ramos, Yoann Huget, Damian Penaud, Aivereti Raka, Wesley Fofana, Gael Fickou, Sofiane Guitoune, Virimi Vakatawa, Camille Lopez , Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont , Maxime Machenaud, Baptiste Serin. - Planet Rugby
Josh Ioane in to cover Mo’unga
Hamilton: First five-eighth Josh Ioane has been called in to the All Blacks squad as cover for the injured Richie Mo’unga ahead of their last test before the Rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks confirmed that Ioane had been summoned to prepare for Saturday’s clash against Tonga in Hamilton.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said hadn’t yet seen Mo’unga’s medical report, but wouldn’t risk any player who wasn’t 100 per cent ahead of Saturday.
Ioane, the Highlanders and Otago No 10, flew to Buenos Aires with the All Blacks in during the Rugby Championship in August, but did not get any game time.
He didn’t make the 31-man Rugby World Cup squad but now has a chance of playing his first test. Hansen said the Tonga test was an important one with the need to keep players up to the mark before they head to Japan.
“First and foremost we’ve got to get game time into a large proportion of the squad – too long a gap otherwise between the last game and the first game at the World Cup. So this will create a two-week window which is acceptable.” In addition to Mo’unga’s shoulder injury, Jack Goodhue still has hamstring problems.
“We won’t risk anyone who’s 5050, or even 80-20,” Hansen told a press conference in Hamilton. “If we could play all 31 members in the weekend, that’s what we’d do. But we’re only allowed to play 23. So we’re going to have to make some hard decisions, because not all of them can play.” - Planet Rugby