Les Bleus dealt fresh blow for Bok duel

France have suffered another major injury setback in the build-up to the Nations Championship clash against the Springboks in November.

Lock Thibaud Flament has reportedly been ruled out of their November Tests. According to French newspaper L’Équipe, the 29-year-old Toulouse forward is facing several weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

Flament played the full 80 minutes of Toulouse’s 45-34 Top 14 win over Bayonne on Sunday, but his absence leaves coach Fabien Galthié without another key option in the engine room.

France are already expected to be without Emmanuel Meafou, who is recovering from a knee injury sustained last month.

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The pair had been tipped to form France’s second-row partnership for the Tests against Fiji, the Springboks and Argentina, with the clash against South Africa in Paris on 13 November looming as a major test.

The latest setback is a blow for Galthié as he prepares his pack to face the world champions, whose physicality will pose a stern challenge.

Flament’s injury is also a concern for Toulouse, who begin their Investec Champions Cup campaign against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday. Les Bleus are also sweating over the fitness of flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert, who is sidelined with a thigh injury and faces a race to be ready for the start of the Nations Championship.

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