Covid-19 hitting France Squad hard ahead clash with Scotland
The France squad continues to be decimated by Covid-19 with five more players returning positives for the illness after Sunday’s latest round of tests.
Captain Charles Ollivon and star fullback Brice Dulan will be out of action for the Scotland showdown at the weekend, as will prop Cyril Baille, hooker Peato Mauvaka and lock Romain Taofifenua.
The outbreak in the group last week saw French coach Fabian and world class scrum half Antoine Dupont among the others forced into isolation and now eight playing staff have Covid in total.
Two of the support staff are also thought to be probable cases.
Now there are serious question marks about the team’s ability to maintain their perfect record and stay on course for a Grand Slam.
They host Scotland on Sunday in what promised to be a blockbuster encounter against Gregor Townsend’s men.
A statement on the FFR website read: ‘Following RT-PCR tests carried out on Sunday February 21, five new players tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the selection of five new players to prepare for the match against Scotland.
‘Following the RT-PCR tests carried out on Sunday February 21, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Romain Taofifenua, Charles Ollivon, and Brice Dulin have tested positive for Covid-19.
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‘Gaëtan Barlot, Thierry Paiva, Cyril Cazeaux, Baptiste Pesenti and Thomas Ramos are selected to join the France group this Monday February 22.’
On Saturday it had been revealed wing Gabin Villiere and prop Mohamed Haouas also have the illness following on from Antoine Dupont’s positive test on Friday.
Head coach Fabian Galthie and forwards coach William Servat had tested positive earlier last week.