France and Argentina suffer loss of key players

RUGBY:Ireland's main pool rivals in the World Cup each had their worst fears confirmed yesterday regarding key members of their chosen 30-man squads.

Sylvain Marconnet, the destructive openside prop who can cover both sides of the French scrum, was ruled out of consideration yesterday after a scan revealed the need for another operation on the broken fibula he sustained in a skiing accident in March.

Even more harrowing, the career of Argentina centre Martin Gaitan is threatened by the heart condition he developed in the wake of the Pumas' defeat to Wales on Saturday. The 29-year-old centre complained of chest pains in the Millennium Stadium's away dressingroom after the game and was rushed to hospital.

Tests showed Gaitan had suffered a partial tear in the wall of a coronary artery after taking a big hit, requiring an operation. Although in a stable condition, he will have to remain in hospital for up to a week.

Argentina team doctor Mario Larrain had confirmed Gaitan will miss the World Cup, and the fear now is this gifted centre may never play again.

The Pumas are already without Martin Aramburu and Francisco Leonelli, and options at outside centre are thin for coach Marcelo Loffreda, who could call in the home-based Henri Senillosa or Gaitan's Biarritz team-mate Marcelo Bosch, more an outhalf-cum-inside-centre.

The only specialist 13 in the squad is Gonzalo Tiesi, and like his Irish counterpart Brian O'Driscoll, the London Irish centre is fighting his own race against time with a fractured cheekbone sustained in the recent romp over Chile, though he is expected be fit by the time Argentina play Ireland in the pool denouement on September 30th in Parc des Princes.

In his absence, and now that of Gaitan, Manuel Contepomi could well start alongside his brother Felipe in the tournament curtain raiser against France in Stade de France on September 7th.

Missing from that game, and the tournament, will be Marconnet; a significant blow for the French, whose sporting media have fretted over his wellbeing since he injured a shin while skiing in March.

Nicolas Mas, the bull of a loosehead from Perpignan, who made a notable impact off the bench in the 22-9 win over England in Marseilles last Saturday, is a solid tighthead, but Marconnet is widely regarded as France's best prop. Besides packing down on both sides, he is also more mobile.

John Hayes, who has found Marconnet an awkward opponent, may not be unduly disappointed. Marconnet's loss compounds French concerns over the injured Pieter de Villiers. In a statement the French management said the decision to omit Marconnet was taken on the advice of his surgeon.