Rugby World Cup 2011
Skrela blow for Les Bleus
ESPNscrum Staff
September 14, 2011
David Skrela makes his Rugby World Cup exit after a press conference in Auckland on Wednesday
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France boss Marc Lievremont has confirmed that injured fly-half David Skrela will play no further part in the World Cup - and that Toulouse's Jean-Marc Doussain has been called up as a replacement. Skrela was brought on as a second-half substitute in Les Bleus' 47-21 win over Japan on Saturday but he lasted just ten minutes before having to be replaced after picking up a serious shoulder injury and is now facing several weeks on the sidelines. "Obviously I am disappointed to leave. I've been preparing for this tournament for a long time, but these are the ups and downs of sport," Skrela said. "After the Japan match, I feared the worst and thought I'd need an operation. That wasn't the case, but four days later I still have problems with (my shoulder) mobility. The muscle isn't working at all, which makes it a bit complicated to play rugby - especially at a World Cup. "My teammates are disappointed for me; it's very emotional to have to leave them after you've prepared for two months together." Meanwhile, Lievremont, who has overlooked Stade Francais fly-half Lionel Beauxis and veteran playmaker Frederic Michalak as possible replacements for the injured Skrela, revealed that the 20-year-old Doussain will join up with the squad after Toulouse's Top 14 clash with Biarritz on Friday. "He will play this weekend for his club, although I would have liked him here earlier," the France coach said. "Despite his young age, he's shown a lot of maturity for the under-21s. I see him as the ideal contender for this position. He's very aggressive, very spontaneous and he's got a lot of character. All the coaches who've worked with him at every level have said how good his attitude is." © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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