Medard absence forces rethink

France coach Philippe Saint-André has confirmed full-back Maxime Medard will miss the RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland on Sunday with a knee injury.

Medard won his 30th cap in the 23-17 victory over Scotland on Sunday, scoring his 10th international try in the process, but hobbled off in the second half.

Medard’s Toulouse team-mate Clement Poitrenaud, who won the last of his 44 caps in last year’s Six Nations defeat by England at Twickenham, has been drafted in.

Following Medard’s confirmed absence, Saint-André has opted to delay naming his starting XV until today but after admitting his options at full-back are now limited, Poitrenaud is expected to start.