France call-up: Gaël Fickou
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has included 18-year-old Toulouse centre Gaël Fickou in a 33-man squad named ahead of the November internationals.
The squad will be led by Thierry Dusautoir while Pascal Pape is vice-captain for their upcoming fixtures against Australia, Argentina and Samoa.
Along with centre Fickou, Toulon flanker Pierrick Gunther and half-back Fred Michalak also make the squad in a selection that sees eight Toulouse players, six from Clermont, five from Toulon, four Racing players, three from Stade Francais and two from Perpignan, Castres and Montpellier included. Biarritz have one representative.
The France squad will be whittled down to 23 on November 4 ahead of the internationals on November 10, November 17 and November 24.
Forwards: Nicolas Mas, David Attoub, Eddy Ben Arous, Vincent Debaty, Thomas Domingo, Yannick Forestier, Dimitri Szarzewski, Christopher Tolofua, Benjamin Kayser, Pascal Papé, Yoann Maestri, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Jocelino Suta, Thierry Dusautoir, Wenceslas Lauret, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Damien Chouly, Louis Picamoles, Pierrick Gunther.
Backs: Morgan Parra, Maxime Machenaud, Frédéric Michalak, François Trinh-Duc, Jules Plisson, Maxime Mermoz, Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz, Gaël Fickou, Vincent Clerc, Yoann Huget, Benjamin Fall, Brice Dulin, Vincent Martin.
Comments
Davoust says...
Bones7> Buttin was another "grand espoir", just like Fickou now and Fofana in the Six Nations, but his star is gone for the moment. He's not the first choice for Clermont, he faces big competition with Byrne and Floch.
Posted 13:02 17th October 2012
Rosbif says...
....some clubs are going to be relieved that they get to keep some pretty decent players who have not been selected. Imagine how Guy Noves feels about keeping Nyanga. Or Vern Cotter about keeping Buttin. (I guess these two have suffered enough already in providing most of the squad.....). That said, nice to see some Toulon players there too (especially if you count Fickou and Maestri!!)
Happy with the youth, as others have said.
Now all PSA has to do is get central contracts, or some player welfare type agreement, and have his squad for more than 2 days before a test match.
Here's hoping :-)
Posted 12:50 17th October 2012
hellovanite says...
Hey if you don't like it then Fickou!
Posted 06:04 17th October 2012
Bones7 says...
No Jean-Marcellin Buttin? I thought that kid was going to be the next big thing for France, he has looked pretty good so far
Posted 23:07 16th October 2012
Davoust says...
Seen it before ... France always had good centres, wings and fullbacks. They all have been young ... On the other hand, I'm glad that Saint-André (notice the accent!) is thinking about RWC 2015 with all the young blood, this should be the priority. Allez les bleus !
Posted 19:39 16th October 2012
NHsaints says...
Nice squad, I'd be tempted as France coach to put Fofana and the new lad in the midfield and see how that goes, they may not be as physical as some other French centres but they're both brilliant attacking threats.
Posted 18:49 16th October 2012
Bambo says...
A great selection with some older legs still in the background due to injuries. I really hope some of these fresher, younger legs will see France running in more tries and relying less on the kicking which drained so much colour from recent games - they certainly seemed to pep things up with the 2 June games in Argentina.
A strong France is only good news for the rest of the NH sides. Allez!
Posted 18:39 16th October 2012
mive59 says...
I think there is too much buzz surrondint Flickou.
After all he has only been involved in a fistfull of top 14 games...
Another underachieve youg talent to come ?
Another Bastareaud ?
Posted 18:26 16th October 2012
mive59 says...
Je trouve qu'on en fait trop pour un joueur qui n'a joué que quelques matche en top14.
Ca me rappelle le cas bastareaud
Posted 18:24 16th October 2012
melkdave says...
Have to say thats a nice looking squad ,some young talant ,melded with experiance.I do like a potential centre combination of G.Fickou and W.Fontana,The right time to bring in new blood considering 2015 is just round the corner really .
Posted 18:15 16th October 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Wonderful, this lad has so much class and seems to make time to do things. Held up well in his first outing in the Heinekin on Sunday and scored a real opportunist try. Has something different to offer and already seems to read the play well, oh that some of the home nations could find a talent like this guy and then have the balls to pick hin. Nice one St Andre.
Posted 16:38 16th October 2012
Toulousain says...
nice young looking squad. add in some of the injured names like medard, malzieu, palisson in the backs. and harinordoquy and taofifenua in the pack...
(P.S. interesting to see no poitrenaud, or rougerie. and seems guirardo has fallen behind touloufoua. will we ever see them again. or yachvilli or dupuy?? who knows??)
Posted 14:27 16th October 2012
makemehappy says...
Had to be included - he might bring on his colleagues!
Posted 13:34 16th October 2012
froggy73 says...
Young, talented, I like it. Maybe not experienced enough to beat the Aussie next month, but these are the rights names to bring on if you target the WC in 3 years' time.
Posted 11:57 16th October 2012