Injured French quartet make timely recovery

Four key French players look set to revive their Rugby World Cup 2011 campaigns after injuries had threatened to end their participation.

The injured players were:

William Servat, who damaged left knee cartilage in the French Top 14 final on 4 June.

Fabien Barcella, sidelined since August 2010 due to a ruptured achilles tendon, he then injured his left bicep during France’s pre-RWC camp.

Aurélien Rougerie, who dislocated and fractured his left ankle on 7 May during the last match of the regular Top 14 season before the play-offs.

Maxime Mermoz, who seriously injured ligaments in his left shoulder in a Six Nations match against Scotland on 5 February, then strained a knee ligament during the warm-up fixture against Ireland in Bordeaux last month.

Despite these setbacks, head coach Marc Lièvremon - not known for taking ill-considered risks - included all four in his 30-man squad.

Many commentators and fans questioned Lièvremon's decision to select them, but others believe their rapid recovery could provided a psychological boost to the team.
Rougerie spent many hours in the treatment room and was able to achieve a solid level of fitness away from the team.

Such was his impressive progress, he was able to make the starting XV against Ireland in Dublin on 20 August. The 30-year-old and centre partner Fabrice Estebanez overpowered Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll to supply Cédric Heymans with his first try.
That performance left little doubt about Rougerie's fitness and emphasised his importance to the team.

Too eager

Servat, meanwhile, has never looked so sharp, the result of an exhaustive individual training programme.

Barcella, who was forced to watch from the sidelines for 12 months, struggled in the scrum against the Irish front row. But this was mostly due to being too eager to get the ball, while he did not channel his strength to best effect in the difficult phases. Essentially, his struggles were of his own making and not due to the power of the Irish props.

Mermoz has also met every physical test to justify his place in the squad, although he will be rested as a precaution for France's opening match against Japan at North Harbour Stadium on 10 September.

While many people still believe Lièvremon has placed too much faith in the quartet, they appear confident they have overcome their fitness worries.