Hard blow confirmed for the XV of France. Blues captain Grégory Alldritt, injured in the left thigh during the victory in Scotland, will not be restored for the reception against Italy on February 25.
The La Rochelle international third row had to leave the Murrayfield pitch on a stretcher in the 50th minute of the victory against Scotland (20-16). A few minutes later, at a press conference, Alldritt was reassuring: “I’m going very well, more fear than harm. It’s a wound that has opened. The muscle is not affected, just the skin which is wide open. A few stitches and now we have to let it heal. »
Finally, the person concerned (26 years old, 47 caps) will not be returned in time for the match against Italy, on February 25 in Lille, at the end of the 3rd day of the Tournament, a source told AFP. close to the player, confirming information from the newspaper L’Équipe.
Ollivon or Fickou captain?
According to the sports daily, the duration of his unavailability is estimated between fifteen days and three weeks. Alldritt should therefore be back for the last two matches of the 2024 Tournament, against Wales on March 10 and against England on March 16.
The withdrawal of the tireless Rochelais is a headache for coach Fabien Galthié and his staff: who will be captain in Lille against the Squadra Azzurra? Who will wear the N.8 flocked jersey?
Alldritt had inherited the captaincy in the absence of Antoine Dupont, who skipped the Tournament to concentrate on rugby sevens and the Paris Olympic Games. Toulonnais Charles Ollivon (30 years old, 41 selections), captain of the Blues at the start of Fabien Galthié’s mandate, seems ideally suited to take over this role. Unless the staff turns to the center and captain of Racing 92 Gaël Fickou (29 years old, 87 selections), back in form against the XV du Chardon and the most experienced player on the French team.
In the third row, Alldritt was replaced at Murrayfield by his partner Paul Boudehent (24 years old, 8 selections). The young Rochelais could take his place in the third row with Ollivon and François Cros (29 years old, 29 selections). Toulouse’s Alexandre Roumat (26 years old, 1 selection) was also present on the bench in front of Scotland but he entered the second row, in place of Racingman Cameron Woki.
