France's Yoann Huget (right) falls after a tackle from Italy's Luke McLean. (Reuters)
France wing Yoann Huget left the World Cup yesterday after injuring his knee in the victory over Italy. His place in the team was taken by Castres wing Remy Grosso.
A tearful Huget was forced off during the 32-10 win in their opening World Cup match on Saturday night.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre said Huget had a bad ligament injury. “A big thought for Yoann Huget, a model player in terms of his commitment, great guy. We’re all with you, (have a) good recovery,” the coach wrote on Twitter.
The 28-year-old Toulouse star Huget was pulled out of the France squad before the last World Cup in New Zealand in 2011 after missing three doping tests, for which he was handed a three-month suspension.
France later named the powerful Grosso as a surprise replacement, when many thought the experienced Maxime Medard, a Toulouse teammate of Huget and a veteran of 41 Test, would get the nod.
Huget went off after 56 minutes of Saturday’s match at Twickenham, the first game of the tournament for the two Six Nations rivals, who are in Pool D alongside Ireland, Canada and Romania.
Huget was running down the wing with ball in hand when he pushed off his right leg to cut inside a defender, only to collapse to the ground, wincing in pain. He was seen holding his face in his hands before being helped from the field by two members of the French medical staff.
He could then be seen crying as he sat on the bench beside the pitch, while being consoled by various people, including French federation official Serge Blanco, a former France international full-back.
Huget, who has played 41 times for France, was in full preparation for the World Cup four years ago when he was kicked out of the squad after missing a third doping test.
He made his debut for France in 2010 and has scored seven tries for his country.
