Marconnetto discover World Cup fate today
Prop Marconnet, who is recovering from a broken leg he sustained in March, will discover today whether he is to be retained for the World Cup, which begins next month.
A medical examination will determine the fate of the Stade Francais front-row forward, who is his country’s most capped prop with 71 international appearances.
He is a regular fixture in Les Bleus’ first choice line-up, but it appears he is losing his battle to regain full fitness with the World Cup just over three weeks away.
Harinordoquy admits Marconnet’s absence would hit France hard.
“I am quite close to him, I am watching it all develop and how he is going,” said the Biarritz back-rower.
“It is hard for us to see, but it is even harder for him. I have seen him and he is working like a donkey.
“He has made an enormous effort and he has probably worked harder than anyone.
“But he is battling against time, and against time you can’t really do a great deal.”
The prospects do not look good for Marconnet, whose recovery from the operation on his left shinbone has been stalled by a nagging ankle injury that often comes when a player tries to force himself back to fitness as quickly as possible.
He will not take part in any of France’s warm-up games ahead of the World Cup, and would go into the tournament cold, untested and without any competitive rugby under his belt in almost seven months.
Nicolas Mas is on standby and will replace Marconnet if the latter does miss out.
Harinordoquy should start against England on Saturday in Marseille after missing the 21-15 win over the world champions last weekend.
Meanwhile Chris Paterson believes Frank Hadden’s players are in a better physical condition than any squad he can remember Scotland sending to a World Cup.
Paterson will again be a key player in his third World Cup with Scotland and is vying with Dan Parks for the stand-off role following Hadden’s announcement of his 30-man squad, which saw Gordon Ross omitted.
Former Edinburgh player Paterson, who recently joined Gloucester, played at number 10 in the 31-21 victory over Ireland last Saturday and feels the squad is shaping up strongly.
The 29-year-old said: “If you had asked me in 2003 I would have said that’s the fittest I have been and the strongest the squad has been but things have moved on four years.
“The game has moved on and the science and preparation have moved on four years so we are undoubtedly fitter and in the best shape we have ever been in.”
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