By Jean-Paul Couret
MARCOUSSIS, Essonne (Reuters) - France suffered another injury blow for their opening Six Nations game in Scotland when replacement scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was ruled out with a calf injury Thursday.
Elissalde, selected to cover for the halfback positions and as second-choice goalkicker, will be replaced by Frederic Michalak Sunday.
Elissalde was the third France player to pull out of the Scotland match due to injury after locks Romain Millo-Chluski and Sebastien Chabal.
France will travel to Scotland without five members of the starting line-up which defeated world champions South Africa in November, Millo-Chluski, fullback Damien Traille, centre Maxime Mermoz and prop Fabien Barcella who are all injured and suspended scrumhalf Julien Dupuy.
The 32-year-old Elissalde, who has 35 caps, said his injury could signal the end of his international career.
"I'm wondering if it was not my destiny to get injured. I joined the France team 10 years ago to the day to replace Richard Dourthe who had been ruled out through injury," he told reporters.
"What is written is written. You know when you are leaving but you don't know when and if you will come back. Maybe, it's also a sign of destiny for the guy who will replace me," he added, referring to 27-year-old Michalak whose career is having more downs than ups since the 2007 World Cup.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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