Rugby World Cup 2011
Skrela blow for Les Bleus
ESPNscrum Staff
September 14, 2011
France fly-half David Skrela makes his Rugby World Cup exit, France press conference, Rugby World Cup 2011, Auckland, New Zealand, September 14, 2011
David Skrela makes his Rugby World Cup exit after a press conference in Auckland on Wednesday © Getty Images
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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."

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