France are building the ultimate prop machine to unleash on the All Blacks
France may have accidentally leaked footage of their prototype prop 2.0 from their training camp ahead of the autumn internationals.
Tighthead Demba Bamba is the player in question, who was put through a series of gruelling tests in the gym this week, as France seek to build the ultimate prop. As the squad were in the gym this week, the Lyon man’s scrummaging was put to test in something that closely resembled a lab experiment.
The 120kg prop was made to clamber across a horizontal ladder with elastic bands strapped over his shoulder and a member of staff pressing his head down. His body would have been put to the limit with this exercise, with force being exerted from all angles. That was not all though for Bamba, as he can be later seen in the video doing a form of dumbbell press while also supporting a kettlebell with his neck. Camille Chat may soon have competition for the biggest neck in rugby.
Take a look:
https://twitter.com/FranceRugby/status/1454068985180348420?s=20
Bamba was recently selected for Fabien Galthie’s 42-man national squad that are set to take on Argentina, Georgia and the All Blacks next month. November the 20th may be the date when France’s experiment is complete and prop 2.0 can be unleashed against the All Blacks.
France squad:
Backs: Romain Buros, Brice Dul in, Melvyn Jaminet, Thomas Ramos; Gabin Villiere, Damian Penaud, Matthis Lebel, Donovan Taofifenua; Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa, Yoram Moefana, Jonathan Danty, Tani Vili; Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy; Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Couilloud, Maxime Lucu
Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Anthony Jelonch, Cameron Woki, Dylan Cretin, Francois Cros, Sekou Macalou, Ibrahim Diallo; Paul Willemse, Bernard Le Roux, Romain Taofifenua, Thibaud Flament, Killian Geraci, Florent Vanverberghe, Florian Verhaeghe; Demba Bamba, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Uini Atonio, Julian Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Gaetan Barlot, Cyril Baille, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Thierry Paiva.
