The hooker of the XV of France Julien Marchand, injured during the victory against the All Blacks (27-13), will undergo “additional examinations” at the start of the week, said Saturday the assistant coach of the Blues Laurent Labit.
Marchand, who was released in the 12th minute of the match, suffered, according to his coach Fabien Galthié, from a “tear” in his hamstring, an injury which could deprive him of the entire group stage of the World Cup.
A reasonable return for the quarters?
The absence of the hooker is a hard blow for the French first line, one of the strengths of the XV of France, since it is added to that of the left pillar Cyril Baille, injured in a calf, the extent of which is unknown. date of return to competition.
“Julien is going to take exams at the start of the week. We hope it’s not very serious (…) Once we have the diagnosis and the verdict of his injury, we will make a decision, ”said Labit.
“We still have two heels in the group, Peato Mauvaka and Pierre Bourgarit. We also have pillars who can play hooker. There’s no problem. There is no reason to panic: we are not going to rush, we have a match (against Uruguay, Editor’s note) which will happen on Thursday where, in any case, Julien was not planned in the rotation », continued the coach in charge of the attack of the XV of France.
Marchand (28 years old, 31 caps) injured his left thigh on Friday during the opening victory of the World Cup against the All Blacks (27-13).
“He had a tear on a hyperextension on a scrape. He preferred to go out, he was too diminished,” explained coach Fabien Galthié after the match.
“Given the symptoms, we imagine a muscular problem with an hamstring,” he added. The Blues face Uruguay on Thursday, then Namibia on September 21 and Italy on October 6.