Under-fire Guy Noves looked doomed yesterday to become the first French coach axed before the end of his contract after media reports suggesting Bordeaux-Begles boss Jacques Brunel is being lined up to take charge before the start of the Six Nations.
French rugby federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte is expected to dump Noves on December 27, just five weeks before Les Bleus face Ireland in their Six Nations opener. Noves, 63, has come under increasing pressure after overseeing six successive defeats and a 23-23 draw in France’s most recent outing against Japan. According to the JDD news outlet, Noves, who took charge after the 2015 World Cup, has the worst record of any French national coach — 14 defeats and a draw in 22 matches. “He was told of the decision on Thursday, but not in an official manner,” reports the JDD.
His assistants, Yannick Bru (forwards coach) and Jean-Frederic Dubois (backs), will also be sacked. Brunel, who will be 64 on January 14, was once Laporte’s right-hand man as forwards coach with the national team from 2000-2007.
Brunel took Perpignan to the French league title in 2009 and spent five years in charge of Italy between 2011 and 2016 before switching to Bordeaux in 2016. Despite his struggles at the international level, Noves possesses an impressive domestic track record with 10 French titles and four European Cup triumphs during his time with Toulouse.


England’s Daly and Hughes 
to miss start of Six Nations
England wing Elliot Daly and back row Nathan Hughes will miss the start of the Six Nations campaign due to injuries, their club Wasps said. The pair sustained the injuries in Wasps’ European Champions Cup victory over La Rochelle on Sunday with Daly suffering a sprained ankle while No. 8 Hughes damaged knee ligaments.
Daly could be missing for 10-12 weeks while Hughes faces eight to 10 weeks out, British media reported. They were both in Eddie Jones’ squad for England’s autumn Tests. “Elliot has injured his ankle — he has a syndesmosis injury — which is pretty common,” Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said.
“He is going to see the specialist to see whether any surgical intervention is required, which depending on the grade of the injury, hopefully it won’t be. Nathan has an MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) injury to his knee. Again, we’re waiting on the specialist to let us know what’s required but we can safely say even the best picture, which is a grade one tear, will require a minimum of four weeks.” Jones also has concerns over the fitness of centre Ben Te’o, lock Maro Itoje and No. 8 Billy Vunipola ahead of the Six Nations which champions England kick off against Italy in Rome on Feb. 4. Their final game is at home to Ireland on March 17. Hughes could be fit to face Scotland on Feb. 24, while Daly’s might be ready tom return against France on March 10.


All Black Moala signs for Clermont
All Black centre George Moala has joined Clermont from Super Rugby team Auckland Blues on a three season deal, the French Top 14 champions announced. The powerful and experienced 27-year-old, who can also play on the wing and has been capped four times for New Zealand, will join his new club next summer.
“This versatile player has a profile that we were missing in our squad. He’s going to bring lots of strength to the middle of the pitch,” said Clermont’s sporting director Franck Azema. 
He added: “He’s excellent in both defence and in attack and is capable of making the difference as much with his side steps as his strength. He is a game changer.”
Injury-ravaged Clermont could use Moala now as Alivereti Raka, Camille Lopez, Noa Nakaitaci and former All Black Luke McAlister are all sidelined. Clermont have won all four European matches this season to top Pool 2 by five points from Ospreys with two matches to play. But domestically they are ninth in the Top 14 standings after 12 matches.