France were short-handed but in an upbeat mood as they trained at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium today.
French team public affairs manager Lionel Rossigneux described the feeling in the squad as “very good” after the 61-18 win over Fiji on Saturday.
“None of the injuries are serious and everyone is very happy, looking forward to the next match,” added Rossigneux.
Four players missed the public session at one of Australian rugby’s most famous stadiums, but none of the injuries is causing major concern.
Number eight Imanol Harinordoquy was nursing a bruised thigh, as was fly-half Frederic Michalak, and winger Aurelien Rougerie was absent because of a damaged kneecap, with all the injuries suffered in the victory over the Fijians.
Rougerie left the field in the 56th minute, while Michalak came off with just seven minutes to go in a match which saw him score 26 points and Harinordoquy actually finished the game.
Stade Francais prop Sylvain Marconnet is also still limited to weights training because of the thigh injury he suffered in the pre-World Cup build-up.
Flanker Serge Betsen sported three pieces of plaster above his right eye to protect the two stitches inserted after the opening World Cup match, and Olivier Magne was reported as being “a bit sore” after his brush with the forearm of Fijian winger Rupeni Caucau.
“It’s fine, nothing serious, but he has been having a little bit of pain in the jaw,” said Rossigneux as the players went through a fairly gentle run at Ballymore.
The venue hosted five matches at the 1987 World Cup, including Wales’ famous quarter-final win over England and their semi-final defeat at the hands of New Zealand.
It was originally scheduled to host matches this year but demand for tickets saw all of Brisbane’s matches shifted to the much larger Suncorp Stadium.