Rugby International newsOuthalf Yann Delaigue is out of contention for France's World Cup squad after suffering a serious arm injury during the tour of Argentina, his Toulouse club manager Guy Noves said yesterday.
"Yann damaged a tendon in his left upper arm. He will undergo surgery tomorrow (today) and will have to rest for at least four months," Noves said.
The World Cup takes place in October and November in Australia. The French squad is to be announced on July 2nd.
Delaigue had been given the three-match tour to Argentina and New Zealand to win back the outhalf position after masterminding Toulouse's European Cup win.
He left the field during the second Test last week and immediately returned to France for treatment while the team travelled to New Zealand to face the All Blacks on Saturday.
Before Argentina, the 30-year-old-Delaigue had won the last of 10 caps in 1997.
France is more interested in this year's World Cup than their one-off Test against New Zealand this weekend, team manager Jo Maso said in Christchurch.
France, who lost a two-match series to Argentina, arrived in New Zealand on Monday ahead of Saturday's Test against the All Blacks.
"This is not a year for Tests on tour. It is the year for the World Cup, and that is number one in importance for players," Maso said.
"England have settled on their 30 players for the World Cup. We have 20 to 22 players who are sure of selection, but there are seven or eight in this team who could make our World Cup 30."
Meanwhile, New Zealand have once again dropped their entire front row for Saturday's one-off Test, reinstating the trio who played in the 15-13 loss to England.
Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver and Dave Hewett, axed from the side who beat Wales 55-3 last Saturday, were recalled yesterday for the match against France.
Prop Kees Meeuws and hooker Keven Mealamu are relegated to the bench with Carl Hoeft missing out altogether.
Richie McCaw returns at openside flanker in place of Marty Holah while Mils Muliaina is retained at full back in place of Leon MacDonald.
MacDonald withdrew from the matches against England and Wales because of the concussion he sustained in the Super-12 final a month ago.
NEW ZEALAND: 15 M Muliaina; 14 D Howlett, 13 T Umaga, 12 D Carter, 11 J Rokocoko; 10 C Spencer, 9 S Devine; 8 J Collins, 7 R McCaw, 6 R Thorne (captain), 5 A Williams, 4 C Jack, 3 G Somerville, 2 A Oliver, 1 D Hewett. Replacements: K Mealamu, K Meeuws, B Thorn, M Holah, B Kelleher, A Mauger, C Ralph.
Jonah Lomu would be welcome to return to the Wellington side for pre-season games before the National Provincial Championship if he is healthy enough, coach John Plumtree said yesterday.
Lomu, who has the kidney disease nephrotic syndrome and has been undergoing dialysis treatment, would need medical clearance before he could return to competitive rugby.
"If he gets cleared medically and he wants to play rugby, then he will come down and join the squad and we will see where he is at fitness-wise," Plumtree said.
Wellington have pre-season games against Otago on August 2nd and Taranaki the following week, before their first NPC match against Southland on August 16th.
Plumtree said he would love to have Lomu at his disposal, but added he still needed treatment and would have to manage his time between that and rugby.
"If he wants to play at the World Cup then there's only one way to do that, and that's through us," he said.
