The tension mounts before the England-France clash, Saturday 5:45 p.m., for the 4th day of the Six Nations Tournament.
It is this Thursday, at 12:15, that the composition of the team will be announced by Fabien Galthié and his staff.
This Wednesday evening, at the end of a "high intensity" training, the back line coach Laurent Labit came to take stock of the forces involved.
The assistant coach said in particular that Montpellier players Anthony Bouthier and Paul Willemse had been placed under surveillance at the start of the week.
They missed Tuesday's training "as a precaution".
They had participated in a Top 14 match against Clermont on Friday night, which reported a case of Covid in his team.
“We were careful of course.
When the medical cell was informed, the players were isolated.
They tested negative.
Montpellier also carried out tests which were negative.
They were able to rejoin the group at the end of the afternoon and follow normal training, ”assured Laurent Labit.
This training included eight players from the France Under-20 team.
“These players were chosen on the basis of their virological status.
All have been immunocovid for less than three months.
Their participation was validated by the FFR Medical Committee as well as by the Six Nations Test Monitoring Group (TOG) ”, assured the FFR.
Bernard Le Roux package, Jalibert holds the rope in 10
Laurent Labit has also confirmed the package of Bernard Le Roux.
The second row of Racing 92 was replaced in the group of 31 players by Toulonnais Swan Rebbadj.
Usual holder in the second row with Willemse, Bernard Le Roux suffers from a strained thigh and will be greatly missed by the XV of France.
"He's a big tackle, an extraordinary player, he will be missed at Twickenham," admitted Cyril Baille, pillar of Toulouse Stadium.
At the strategic position of opening half, where Romain Ntamack, back from injury, is in competition with Matthieu Jalibert who has held the reins of the game during the last five games of the Blues, the trend seems to be favorable to the Bordeaux.
"Matthieu Jalibert has fulfilled his mission perfectly and has given satisfaction since taking charge of the team," said Laurent Labit.
Before adding: "Like Romain Ntamack before him ..."
In the center, the return of Virimi Vakatawa is little doubt.
“He replayed 80 minutes of high level on Saturday with his club.
We know his quality with the ball and to monopolize the opposing defenders ”, underlined Laurent Labit.
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The training of this Wednesday seems in any case to have given satisfaction to the coach of the back lines.
“We were able to work with the intensity we wanted, including streaks under pressure, as we expect to undergo at Twickenham.
The players were well invested, well prepared, ”says Laurent Labit.