The positive players – Dupont, Ntamack, Baille, Jelonch, Mauvaka – will not go to Aubagne on Sunday evening to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament. They will join their tricolor partners later in the week.
The captain of the XV of France, Antoine Dupont, but also the pillar Cyril Baille and, very probably Romain Ntamack, Anthony Jelonch and Peato Mauvaka. Five Blues tested positive on Thursday. Five of the ten Toulouse residents selected by Fabien Galthié for preparation for the Six Nations Tournament. And a meeting scheduled for Sunday in Aubagne to launch these two weeks of training. These five players, but also their five teammates considered as contact cases, will they be there? The positives certainly not.
Read alsoStade Toulousain: Antoine Dupont positive for Covid
«We knew it was a possible hazard, but unfortunately we are used to“, reacted to theAFP Serge Simon, vice-president of the French Rugby Federation, stating that infected players could “don’t join the rally until later“, once their tests are negative. “What gives us some comfort is that the first game is not for now, so it will be fine.»
Dupont left at the disposal of Toulouse to reconnect with competition?
The question of whether these players will be replaced for these few days or not is not yet settled. Just like the Antoine Dupont case. Sick, then injured in the knee, then covid, the scrum half has not played a single match since December 11. Short of competition, he could be left at the disposal of Stade Toulousain to play the Top 14 match against Racing 92 on Saturday January 29. There will still be time for him to join the XV of France on Sunday January 30. One week before the debut of the Blues in the Six Nations Tournament, Sunday February 6 at the Stade de France.
«If the French team leaves it to us, it would be with great pleasure“Reacted Clément Poitrenaud, the coach in charge of the Toulouse three-quarters. Who does not say “not worried” on the “capacity“of his player”quickly pick up the pace». «It is also perhaps a blessing in disguise given the last three seasons, which have been very intense for him. Plus the media hype that surrounds him and that can drain a lot of energy. He used this time to repair, rest, regenerate“Assured the former Toulouse back.
