THE NEXT TIME a French club or newspaper pipe up about an Irish player getting off the suspension hook, send them a link to this story.
The French Rugby Federation have reduced the four-week ban handed down to scrumhalf Morgan Parra for his punching flurry on Bordeaux-Begles’s Gautier Gibouin. The suspension was halved, to two weeks, and means Parra will now be able to face New Zealand on 9 November.
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The reduction was timely for France coach Philippe Saint-Andre after Racing Métro scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud was ruled out of the November tests with injury. The only other 9 in the France squad is Fregeric Michalak, who only returned to action last weekend after a pell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
Parra was given the ban on 17 October after he was shown the yellow card in Clermont’s home win over Bordeaux-Bégles. The scrumhalf, who started the World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in 2011, landed four punches on Gautier but reprisals were not forthcoming as the flanker was held back by two Clermont forwards.
France take on the All Blacks in Paris on 9 November. Back rows Louis Picamoles [hip] and Fulgence Ouedraogo [shoulder], who are both injured, did not feature in the squad.
In April of this year, French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique dedicated two pages of its publication to air grievances over the lack of a citing for Paul O’Connell after the lock accidentally kicked Dave Kearney in the head. Coincidentally, their chief complaint was that O’Connell would not be banned for Munster’s upcoming game with Parra’s team, Clermont.
FRANCE SQUAD
Forwards: Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Métro), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, captain), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Métro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing-Métro), Damian Chouly (Clermont), Antonie Claassen (Castres).
Backs: Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Jonathan Pélissié (Montpellier), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Camille Lopez (Perpignan), Remi Talès (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Brice Dulin (Castres), Yoann Huget (Toulouse).
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Morgan Parra's punching ban conveniently reduced in time for All Blacks game
THE NEXT TIME a French club or newspaper pipe up about an Irish player getting off the suspension hook, send them a link to this story.
The French Rugby Federation have reduced the four-week ban handed down to scrumhalf Morgan Parra for his punching flurry on Bordeaux-Begles’s Gautier Gibouin. The suspension was halved, to two weeks, and means Parra will now be able to face New Zealand on 9 November.
The reduction was timely for France coach Philippe Saint-Andre after Racing Métro scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud was ruled out of the November tests with injury. The only other 9 in the France squad is Fregeric Michalak, who only returned to action last weekend after a pell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
Parra was given the ban on 17 October after he was shown the yellow card in Clermont’s home win over Bordeaux-Bégles. The scrumhalf, who started the World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in 2011, landed four punches on Gautier but reprisals were not forthcoming as the flanker was held back by two Clermont forwards.
YouTube credit: Best Rugby Videos
France take on the All Blacks in Paris on 9 November. Back rows Louis Picamoles [hip] and Fulgence Ouedraogo [shoulder], who are both injured, did not feature in the squad.
In April of this year, French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique dedicated two pages of its publication to air grievances over the lack of a citing for Paul O’Connell after the lock accidentally kicked Dave Kearney in the head. Coincidentally, their chief complaint was that O’Connell would not be banned for Munster’s upcoming game with Parra’s team, Clermont.
FRANCE SQUAD
Like rugby? Follow TheScore.ie’s dedicated Twitter account @rugby_ie >
Injury delays O’Connell captaincy call as alternatives stand ready
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Morgan Parra November Tests punching ban Rugby scrumhalf Clermont France New Zealand Timely