The new head coach of French Rugby Guy Noves has communicated an incipient change in style with the dropping of Mathieu Bastareaud.
Bastaeraud was the most notable absentee from the 30 man squad named, and Noves justified his decision by telling Midi Olympique that:
He is a player whose potential we know and this does not mean he has been completely discarded.
Quite simply, and I say this humbly, we have the aim of playing a different form of rugby to recent years. Mathieu Bastareaud is also capable of adapting his game, though.
The 125kg Bastareaud became symbolic of the one-dimensional game plan of Phillipe Saint-Andre. While his omission will be good news for Johnny Sexton and co. in terms of a reduction in bone-shuddering midfield collisions, a French side harnessing the frightening running capabilities of Wesley Fofana and others is quite a fearsome prospect.
[RTE]
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