France's replacement centre Florian Fritz has been ruled out of his country's final Six Nations match with Scotland in Paris on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Toulouse star failed to recover from a left foot infection and has been replaced on the bench by the uncapped Gael Fickou.
"Florian Fritz will not be fit for Saturday," said a French team spokesman.
"He has a blister that has infected his left foot. He has been replaced by Gael Fickou."
Fritz, who started the 13-13 draw with Ireland last Saturday, had been unable to train since last Monday.
Fickou, 18, had been called up for the pre-Six Nations preparations but has played for the U20 side during the tournament.
France need to beat Scotland to give themselvees a chance of avoiding their first wooden spoon since 1999 and their first in this year's Six Nations.
France (revised): 15 Yoann Huget, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Antonie Claassen, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Christophe Samson, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 François Trinh-Duc, 23 Gael Fickou.
Comments
pierredelot1 says...
Thats a step forward, but what chances he's going to get with Michalak at 10 I don't know. Frances failure this season is due to the poor selection policy of St Andre who really seems to have lost it. Why Trinh Duc is still on the bench is beyond me. The best French play this season was the first half against England, any dummy could see that, but still they continue to mess about
Posted 10:20 16th March 2013
melkdave says...
Well imo,its a step in the right direction,F.Fitz has added absolutely nothing,this championship to french attacking ambitions or to the teams defence..My centers would be Fontana,Basteuad ,Y.David and Fickou..Which offers combinations of pace and power,andcreativity.
Posted 21:25 15th March 2013
whatisthis says...
He was pretty crap for the u-20 last week....bit unfair though as the whole french team was poor
Posted 20:50 15th March 2013
NHSaints says...
What a fantastic young talent, a midfield of fickou and fofanna is just unfair, I would not want to be scotland when he gets on the pitch...
Posted 17:09 15th March 2013
mlbp says...
Great news!
Posted 14:28 15th March 2013