France: Flament ruled out too

Fabien Galthié loses his first-choice second row less than a month before the first Test.

Flament played the full 80 minutes of the win over Bayonne (45-34). Rested in training early in the week, he turns out to be more seriously injured than first thought and will also miss Sunday’s Champions Cup game against Exeter. Meafou ruptured the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee against Vannes and will be out for several months.

Eight wins in nine starts together

In our data, Flament and Meafou have started together in the second row nine times for France, winning eight. The only defeat came against South Africa in November 2025 (17-32). Their last game together was on 14 March, the 48-46 Six Nations win over England.

38 caps for Flament

At 29, Flament has 38 caps, Meafou 18. France face Fiji on 7 November in Lyon, then South Africa on 13 November, before finals weekend at Twickenham.