France drop Marconnet, Domingo

France announced their 30-man World Cup squad on Sunday, with forwards Sylvain Marconnet and Thomas Domingo missing out.

Props fail to make 30-man squad

France announced their 30-man World Cup squad on Sunday, with forwards Sylvain Marconnet and Thomas Domingo missing out on the trip to New Zealand. Coach Marc Lievremont, who made the announcement in Dublin after Saturday's 26-22 win over Ireland, had been widely expected to leave Fabien Barcella at home given his lack of fitness but has instead dropped experienced fellow prop Marconnet. Marconnet, 35, has 84 caps but will miss his second successive World Cup having missed out in France four years ago after suffering an injury whilst skiing. "Already four years ago I didn't make it due to injury and I was dreaming of taking part this time, but sadly that dream has been shattered," he said. "It's a real let-down and I wasn't expecting it. I have almost certainly played my last game for France, but life goes on." Barcella ruptured his Achilles tendon in August last year and although he featured at the Aviva Stadium, he looked slightly off the pace. "Sylvain is the last player I played with at club level and also in the France team, it's been a difficult choice," Lievremont told reporters. "Sylvain asked me not to announce it to the group in his presence. I have always said the best two props in France were Thomas and Fabien. I said I hoped to keep one and that is the decision I have made."

Struggling

Loosehead Domingo has been struggling with a knee problem which required surgery in April. He did not play in either of France's two warm-up matches against Ireland. Meanwhile, Guilhem Guirado, who was only drafted into the squad as cover for injured hooker William Servat, keeps his place along with Servat. Winger Yoann Huget was dropped from the initial 33-man preliminary squad earlier this month for breaching anti-doping regulations. Centre Maxime Mermoz suffered a knee problem in the first warm-up win against Ireland last weekend but will be fit for the World Cup. Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir will captain the squad. France leave for New Zealand on August 29 and will play their first Pool A match against Japan in North Harbour on September 10, before taking on Canada, the All Blacks and Tonga. The deadline for final squads to be announced is Monday. France 30-man squad:
Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Julien Bonnaire, Luc Ducalcon, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Imanol Harinordoquy, Guilhem Guirado, Nicolas Mas, Romain Millo-Chluski, Raphael Lakafia, Lionel Nallet, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Pascal Pape, Louis Picamoles, Julien Pierre, Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski.
Backs: Vincent Clerc, Patrice Estebanez, Cedric Heymans, David Marty, Maxime Medard, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Aurelien Rougerie, David Skrela, Damien Traille, Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili.