Rugby World Cup
France coach Phillippe Saint-Andre reluctant to rule injured Yoann Huget out of Rugby World Cup
Tom Hamilton
September 19, 2015
Huget injury mars Italy victory

Philippe Saint-Andre stopped short of ruling Yoann Huget out of the Rugby World Cup but they are facing a nervous wait on scans on Sunday to determine the severity of his knee injury.

Huget was forced off in the second-half of the match with original reports suggesting he had picked up an ACL injury. Huget looked visibly distressed on the French bench but Saint-Andre is retaining a glimmer of hope he will feature again for Les Bleus sooner rather than later but there are major doubts over his tournament prospects.

"Regarding Yoann Huget the news is not reassuring," Saint-Andre said. "He got injured on his own, standing up and there are doubts. It could be a ligament injury so there will be a medical check-up and probably a medical scan. And from there we'll take a decision quickly."

Louis Picamoles consoles Yoann Huget as the injured France wing is helped from the field
Louis Picamoles consoles Yoann Huget as the injured France wing is helped from the field© David Rogers/Getty Images

He added his congratulations for captain Thierry Dusautoir and the team but bemoaned their inability to get a bonus point.

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Saint-Andre added: "It was a tough match the Italian side was very good in defence and it was a solid, rough game even if we know we can do better. It was the first time I heard a French Twickenham tonight with La Marseillaise so I want to congratulate the team and the public.

"I would have preferred to come back with Yoann and got the bonus point. We know that if we want to be first in the pool we have to win our next three games. It will be Romania's first game on Wednesday but we need to rest and prepare for Wednesday night."

Captain Dusautoir is Huget's team-mate at both Toulouse and France and he too is keeping his fingers crossed over the winger's prospects.

"I didn't see it directly but only after I saw him lying on the ground and he was taking his time, I realised it was a serious injury," Dusautoir said. "It was only the end that I realised he had picked up a knee injury. As Philippe said, I hope it's less serious than it seems. We are extremely sad but I hope he won't be going home."

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