France have been hit by swine flu - and knee injuries - ahead
of Sunday morning's (NZT) Four Nations rugby league match
with New Zealand.
The French have been so heavily hit by misfortune since their
game showing against England last Friday that they have been
granted an extension by tournament organisers on naming their
team after having just 18 fit players at training.
"They've all got swine flu," coach Bobbie Goulding told NZPA.
"Clint Greenshields and Dimitri Pelo are getting around the
team hotel in face masks.
"(Strength and conditioning coach) Rodney Howe looks like
he's breaking out in the sweats too and now I've started to
get the sniffles and feel the same.
"There's no face masks for me yet - I'm a rough and tumble
Widnes lad."
Goulding said centre Jean-Philippe Baile, second rower Cyril
Gossard, centre Sebastian Raguin (all knee) had been ruled
out.
Forwards Remi Casty (hand) and David Ferriol (suspension)
were already unavailable.
New Zealand-born pair Arty Shead and Andrew Bentley had
joined Les Chanticleers squad, Goulding revealed.
"We had 18 fit players at training - but I'm not one to
moan," he said.
"We have to deal with what has happened and we are still
determined to give a good account of ourselves."
Bentley is the brother of France hooker Kane and also plays
for Catalans while 31-year-old Shead plays for Limoux.
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