France will have to reassess their midfield options.

With the Six Nations set to begin next weekend, the coaches of the various national teams were no doubt hoping that their players would have come through the final round of domestic fixtures ahead of the championship.

However as it happened, both Manu Tuilagi and Luke Fitzgerald did not even make it that far, with both players reporting injured ahead of their respective games for Leicester and Leinster.

Yesterday saw another player fall victim to injury, with French centre Wesley Fofana forced to withdraw from Guy Noves’ squad, after damaging his ribs during Clermont’s defeat to Montpellier.

While many would have expected Noves to replace Fofana with Mathieu Bastareaud, the former Toulouse coach has instead called up Racing winger, Teddy Thomas.

Although Fofana is only expected to miss France’s opening day clash with Italy, his loss nevertheless represents a blow to Noves, who will be looking to establish a consistent centre partnership.

Alan Drumm, Pundit Arena

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