(UKPA) – Oct 30, 2009

France have been given dispensation to delay naming their team to face New Zealand in the Gillette Four Nations in Toulouse after being hit by injury, illness and suspension.

Presented with just 16 fit players for training earlier this week, coach Bobbie Goulding drafted in New Zealand-born forwards Artie Shead and Andrew Bentley and was on Friday holding a roll call before finalising his line-up.

Centres Jean-Philippe Baile and Sebastien Raguin and second-rower Cyril Gossard have all been ruled out with knee injuries, prop Remi Casty has a broken hand and fellow front-rower David Ferriol is suspended. In addition, winger Dimitri Pelo has been in quarantine since Sunday after going down with swine flu, but he is hoping to be passed fit.

Goulding began the tournament with a 22-man squad following the withdrawal of Casey McGuire and was given permission to bring in Shead and Bentley, who both qualify to play for France through residency.

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