The France prop was hampered by neck problems during the RBS 6 Nations and he continues to struggle with the injury that will prevent him playing at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

With fellow prop Jean-Baptiste Poux also out with a neck injury, coach Guy Noves will have to remodel his front row.

Noves will now go with a 24-man squad for the match, with lock Romain Millo-Chluski also a late withdrawal after failing to recover from a rib injury.

Full-back Clement Poitrenaud, who has been playing at centre for Toulouse in recent weeks, boards the flight to Wales today even though there were fears an adductor injury would keep him out.

He is not expected to start though, with Florian Fritz and Yannick Jauzion being Noves' usual midfield combination for big matches and Maxime Medard likely to begin at number 15.