France's injury list grows

ORLY, FRANCE - France suffered a new injury blow on Sunday when number eight Imanol Harinordoquy became the seventh regular ruled out of their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

"Imanol told us he wouldn't be available. We have decided to call up Patrick Tabacco to replace him,'' said team manager Jo Maso as the 22-player squad assembled at Paris-Orly airport on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Harinordoquy suffered a slight dislocation of his right shoulder during a French championship match between his Biarritz club and Pau on Friday.

He joined fellow first choice loose forwards Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen on the injured list. The trio formed a potent combination and spearheaded Les Bleus during the 2003 World Cup and their 2002 and 2004 Grand Slam-winning campaigns.

Lock Pascal Pape, flyhalf Julien Peyrelongue, centre Yannick Jauzion and fullback Nicolas Brusque are also unavailable for the game on February 5 at the Stade de France.

Team doctor Thierry Hermerel said Betsen, Harinordoquy, and Brusque could be back in contention for the game against England on February 13 at Twickenham.

Tabacco has won 16 caps for France and was a member of their World Cup squad but only started a pool game against the US and the third-place playoff lost to New Zealand.

"We know Tabacco very well and he knows the way we play. He never disappointed us and is a very good line-out jumper as is Imanol,'' said Maso.

Sebastien Chabal, Julien Bonnaire and Yannick Nyanga are the other three loose forwards in the squad.

Coach Bernard Laporte is due to announce his starting line-up on Tuesday.

Revised squad:
Forwards: Pieter de Villiers, Sylvain Marconnet, Olivier Milloud, William Servat, Sebastien Bruno, Fabien Pelous, Jerome Thion, Gregory Lamboley, Patrick Tabacco, Julien Bonnaire, Sebastien Chabal, Yannick Nyanga
Backs: Dimitri Yachvili, Pierre Mignoni, Frederic Michalak, Yann Delaigue, Damien Traille, Brian Liebenberg, Ludovic Valbon, Aurelien Rougerie, Christophe Dominici, Pepito Elhorga.

- REUTERS