France lose Picamoles and Michalak

Editor

France number eight Louis Picamoles and pivot Frederic Michalak will miss the third Test against New Zealand in New Plymouth.

France number eight Louis Picamoles and pivot Frederic Michalak will miss next weekend's third Test against New Zealand in New Plymouth.

The duo were injured France's 30-0 defeat to the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre was left to contemplate a team without the rugged Picamoles, who was stretchered off on Saturday with a bruised hip, and Michalak who injured the same shoulder he dislocated earlier in the year.

“Both players are out for Saturday,” Saint-Andre confirmed after the experienced Picamoles, with 38 Tests to his credit, required hospital treatment.

However, he refused to believe France would not be competitive in the third Test in Hamilton despite going scoreless against the All Blacks for the first time on Saturday.

“I just hope we learn from these mistakes and carry on to play with pride because I think guys worked very hard for 80 minutes,” added Saint-Andre.

'Other French teams would have lost by 50 or more here.”