Fresh injury blow for France
March 18, 2002

France coach Bernard Laporte's preparations for the next step in their quest for an historic Grand Slam have been hit with a shoulder injury to prop Olivier Milloud.

France take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday with the hope of making it four wins out of four in the Championship but the injury to Milloud, who has yet to be ruled out, will hinder their plans.

Sylvain Marconnet will come in as cover for Milloud for the Murrayfield tie. France have already lost the services of David Auradou (thumb) and Pieter de Villiers (ankle), with Jean-Baptiste Poux and Thibault Privat likely to step into the fold.

Laporte has also urged his players to forget any thoughts about becoming the first ever country to win all their games in the Six Nations Championship.

Laporte said: "All the games have been important so far, but now the pressure is much higher and we have to do our best to forget about it.

"We would be very happy to win but the game is going to be very difficult because Scotland are a dangerous team in every sector of the game.

"They defend very well and even if they are less organised than the English, they have good forwards.

"I am very wary of them, especially Scott Murray who impresses me a lot with his pace."

"Olivier has undergone further medical examinations, but we will know more about his state tomorrow," he said.

"He will either stay with us in Clairefontaine or go back to his club."

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