France’s 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign suffers major blow as Nicolas Mas ruled out – Rugby News
France’s national Rugby Union team, commonly known as Les Bleus, 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign suffered a major blow as their star first choice prop, Nicolas Mas, has been ruled out from
the remaining pool games due to injury. Les Bleus head coach, Marc Lièvremont, has confirmed the sideling of his talented and experience front row forwards player on Saturday, September 17.
Providing the details, Lièvremont confirmed a hamstring injury to Nicolas Mas. He said, “He has a muscle strain to his hamstring. We don't know exactly how long he will be out for, but let's
say it will be two weeks minimum.”
The injury has further depleted France’s forwards pack resources. Earlier during the week, France has already announced the end of tournament for their talented and star fly half David Skrela.
Skrela sustained a shoulder injury, in their 2011 RWC opener, which required immediate surgery.
The surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation have made it impossible for Skrela to recover before the end of the time.
Lièvremont has expressed his hope that Mas will recover from the injury, before their quarterfinals encounter. He added that Mas has been rested for their upcoming Sunday, September 18 encounter
against the Canada. He said, “He won't play next week for a start, and obviously we will know a bit more about it in a few days time. I hope to have him back for the quarterfinal.”
However, Lièvremont has expressed his concern with the possibility that another injury to the props named in his match day 22 for their Canadian encounter will left them struggling. He said,
“If one of the props gets injured this weekend, it will become complicated for us, because then we will be lacking props.”
The 31-year-old Mas is professional French rugby union player. He made his professional senior rugby union club debut for the French Top 14 outfit, Perpignan in 1999. Even since, he has been
attached with the Perpignan and has represented the club in both Top 14 and Heineken Cup competitions.
Perpignan born Mas made his debut for the France national Rugby Union team, against the All Blacks during their tour of the New Zealand in 2003. He so far has played 46 matches for Les Bleus,
which include 32 starts.
Since 2008, Mas has been a regular member of the France’s starting XV in their international matches. This is Mas second consecutive RWC tournament.
France will miss his presence in the forwards packs, particularly in their tough upcoming matches against the All Blacks and Tonga.
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