France head coach Fabien Galthie has been forced to make further changes to his Six Nations squad ahead of the opening weekend.
This comes after yet another injury in the second row, with strong uncapped lock Emmanuel Meafu missing the first game against Ireland.
Mehou was expected to make his Test debut against the defending Six Nations champions, but suffered a knee injury against Bath on Sunday, leading Toulouse to a 31-19 win in the Investec Champions Cup.
Paul Willems recalled:
The door has been opened for Montpellier’s second-rower Paul Willemse to return after being injured in Toulouse.
Willemse has long been a popular player in Galthie’s squad, but has fallen out of favor recently due to injuries. He was part of a training squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but withdrew due to a thigh injury.
Reports from France suggest that Mairfoux has just been ruled out of the opening game against Ireland, but there is still a chance he could make his Six Nations debut. The 25-year-old earned a spot on the France squad last year after completing a residency.
The New Zealand-born, Australian-raised Lock joined Toulouse in 2019 and recent performances caught the attention of Galthie, who called him into the squad at the first opportunity.
Willemse, who was initially left out of the squad, could start against Ireland with one of the other lock options such as Roman Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Gavrilags or Matthias Halagaf.
Meanwhile, Meahoo’s club teammate Thibault Flament will also miss the opening game and possibly the second match against Scotland.
Mairfu’s resignation comes on the heels of news of Anthony Geronci’s anterior cruciate ligament injury. The flanker also suffered the injury in the Investec Champions Cup match against Bath.
This is the second anterior cruciate ligament injury that Geronci suffered last year. He was replaced in the squad by uncapped Toulouse back-row Alexandre Lumas.
France Six Nations national team plays against Ireland
forward: Cyril Baille, Reda Waldi, Sebastian Taofifenua, Dorian Aldegueri, Wini Atonio, Thomas Lacrayat, Julien Marchand, Piet Mauvaka, Gaetan Barlot, Paul Willemse, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Gavrilagus, Matthias Halagaf, Gregory Aldritt (c), François Clos, Alexandre Lumas, Charles Ollivon, Esteban Abadi, Paul Boudéin
Bucks: Nolan Le Garrec, Maxime Lecque, Antoine Gibert, Mathieu Jalibert, Jonathan Danti, Nicolas Deportaire, Gaël Ficou, Yoram Moefana, Emilian Gailleton, Louis Biel Bialley, Damien Penault, Matisse Rebel, Melvin Jaminet, Thomas Ramos
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