France lose Flament to shoulder injury ahead of Springboks test and Nations Championship

France’s injury problems deepened this week as Toulouse lock Thibaud Flament was ruled out for several weeks with a shoulder injury, according to French outlet L’Equipe, depriving coach Fabien Galthié of his preferred second-row partnership for the entire November international window.

The 29-year-old completed the full 80 minutes of Toulouse’s 45-34 Top 14 victory over Bayonne on Sunday but has since been sidelined, with the injury now confirmed as more serious than initially suggested by Toulouse high-performance manager Jérôme Cazalbou, who had described it only as a precautionary rest.

Flament joins Emmanuel Meafou on the sidelines after the latter suffered a knee injury last month. Together they had been expected to anchor France’s pack through the autumn, making their combined absence a significant blow to Galthié’s preparations — particularly ahead of the November 13 clash with the Springboks in Paris, which France regard as one of the most important fixtures of their Nations Championship campaign with the 2025 Rugby World Cup in Australia on the horizon.

The timing is equally damaging for Toulouse. The reigning French champions open their Investec Champions Cup campaign against Exeter Chiefs this weekend and will now do so without Flament, Meafou and Clément Vergé, leaving their second-row resources stretched heading into Europe.

France’s injury concerns extend beyond the lineout. Bordeaux-Bèglès fly-half Matthieu Jalibert is also racing to recover from a thigh injury in time for the start of the Nations Championship, adding further uncertainty to Galthié’s squad planning.

With South Africa’s powerful pack arriving in Paris next week, France face a defining autumn test at precisely the moment their forward depth is under the most strain.