Out for six weeks: Thierry Dusautoir
France skipper Thierry Dusautoir has been ruled out of at least two of les Bleus' three November Tests.
Dusautoir injured his knee in Toulouse's Heineken Cup win over Treviso on Saturday and is set to be sidelined for six weeks, meaning he is sure to miss France's clashes Australia on November 10 and Argentina the following weekend.
He is also in serious doubt for the clash against Samoa at the Stade de France on November 24.
"Thierry suffered a twisted internal lateral ligament with a slight tear," said Toulouse manager Guy Novès.
"It's an injury that necessitates between four and six weeks rest depending to his ability to properly recuperate."
France are expected to name a replacement for Dusautoir on Monday. Stade Français lock Pascal Papé is likely to take over the captaincy.
Comments
gauca says...
The tackle on TD was phenominally dangerous, the player I couldn't get the number for but Rosbif you are quite right. The sequence was he was about to peel off the side of a maul but was stopped dead in his tracks by the treviso player, who dove shoulder first into his knees at speed and without using arms. This is a contact sport and I do not think it was done with malice but nether the less this was very dangerous.
It is something I see alot of in games, especially when sides are defending thier red zone but refs rarely ever pick up. I believe it is defined as 'dangerous charging' in the laws and is just as dangerous as many other illegal forms of tackle that are heavily policed. Why not this type??
Posted 20:57 23rd October 2012
Bambo says...
I strongly suspect that good rest is long overdue. If McCaw has rightly earned his then Dusautoir must have too. Both immense players. France need TD back fit and fully firing for 6N 2013.
Posted 22:14 22nd October 2012
Rosbif says...
In a weird way, I am relieved it was not worse. Having done my ACL playing rugby, and seeing the way he went down, I thought it was a season-ender. Not to not-pick again, but it looked to me like a no-arms tackle, and on a man that was part of a maul. If Higginbotham gets 4 weeks for touching McCaw, how many weeks does Dusautoir's assailant get?
Posted 16:40 22nd October 2012
Toulousain says...
Agree with both of you. Titi has not really been at the top of his game yet this season. His defence is immense as ever, but his carrying and link-up play has not been there. Hopefully the rest will mean he is in better shape for 6N, HCup run-in, and then the AB series. It's going to be a long tough season.
Meanwhile, a call up for Nyanga? I hope not for ST's sake..... Maybe Lakafia instead?
Posted 11:50 22nd October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Well he hadn't really hit top form yet although his work rate against Leicester was immense. France will just have to learn to play without him. He's been such a fixture in the French side over the last few seasons thet it will be interesting to see who PSA chooses as a replacement.
Posted 11:07 22nd October 2012
melkdave says...
Thats a blow for France ,given how many new young players are in the squad .His experiance and leadership would have ben invaluable imo,let alone the fact his a class player.
Posted 21:11 21st October 2012