France coach Guy Noves has been handed a major boost with the news that loosehead prop Jefferson Poirot is on the verge of a return from injury in time for the 2017 RBS 6 Nations.
The loosehead prop, 24, suffered a shoulder injury in France’s 52-8 autumn victory over Samoa, keeping him out for the rest of the series – which included narrow defeats to Australia and New Zealand.
France, under the stewardship of Noves since November 2015, finished fifth in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations with two wins from five matches, and start this year’s campaign away to defending champions England.
Poirot made his debut against Italy on the opening weekend last year, and made his first start the following week against Ireland – wresting the number one shirt from Eddy Ben Arous.
And the Bordeaux-Begles star is targeting a return to Top 14 action away at Lyon on Friday night, just five weeks before Noves names his starting team at Twickenham.
“Even if I didn’t do any scrummaging last week, making my comeback at Lyon is the aim, it’s what I want to do,” he said.
“There was no apprehension about returning to training and I felt good, even if in the first few days, doing contact again, there were a few aches and pains.
“I was really disappointed and frustrated about the injury. I’d focused a lot of the games that were coming, Australia and New Zealand.”
