France coach Guy Novès has called up Bordeaux-Bègles No.8 Loann Goujon to replace the injured Louis Picamoles ahead of the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland next Saturday.
Picamoles lasted just 15 minutes of Les Bleus’ 23-21 win over Italy at the Stade de France, suffering a hamstring injury as he helped to set up France’s first try.
Further tests have revealed that he will be out for a number of weeks, and there is now a chance he will not return before the end of the tournament.
As a result, Goujon has been called up, and after featuring in all five games of last year’s RBS 6 Nations, he could challenge for Picamoles’ spot at No.8. Meanwhile Novès expects his team to improve on their showing against the Italians as they spend more time working together, and also urged them to pick up the pace of their game in attack.
“It is all too hard to work on in such a short time, to be honest,” he said.
“After that many changes, despite everyone trying their best, it is too much.
“One day you’re practicing at 50% speed, the next you’re playing an actual game at international level against Italy.
“But now that we have had a real shot during an actual game, we will be able to explain to the boys what it is that we are expecting from them exactly, in terms of positioning, organisation. We can now build on a real performance.
“We are almost starting from scratch, this is the beginning of an adventure. That being said, what annoyed me was our inability to change the tempo of the game. A couple of the boys did it, and they were threatening each time.”
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