Fresh legs: Gael Fickou
France coach Philippe Saint-André has added four players to his squad including teenage Toulouse centre Gael Fickou ahead of Saturday's Test against Samoa.
Toulouse centre Fickou, Racing Metro full-back/wing Benjamin Fall, Toulon flank Pierrick Gunther and Perpignan lock Sébastien Vahaamahina have joined the 27-man squad to prepare for the match at the Stade de France outside Paris.
Saint-André is considering freshening up his side after the 39-22 victory over Argentina which followed the 33-6 rout of Australia.
"They'll be with us until Tuesday and we'll take a decision on Tuesday evening," said Saint-André.
"I spoke with Marc Lièvremont and other former coaches and there's often been a few problems with rehabilitation and freshness in this third week of matches."
France will name their matchday 22 on Thursday.
Forwards (15): Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Métro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Stade Toulousain), Pascal Papé (cap., Stade Français), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Yannick Nyanga (Stade Toulousain), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Stade Toulousain), Pierrick Gunther (Toulon).
Backs (12):Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Métro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frédéric Michalak (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Brice Dulin (Castres), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Stade Toulousain), Gaël Fickou (Stade Toulousain), Yoann Huget (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Métro).
Comments
Toulousain says...
All four players called up are young exciting prospects. Their day will come. It is not a matter of "if", but "when"....
With so much talk from the Aussies about how this is their 3rd team, and from NZ about how they could name 2 or 3 sides that would ranked no 1, it is nice to know we have real depth here in France....
Lest we forget, PSA has not picked the following already capped players (who are all still playing):
Poux, Servat, Ducalcon, Pierre, Nallet, Bonnaire, Dusautoir, Harinordoquy, Yachvilli, Skrela, David, Rougerie, Malzieu, Palisson, Medard
(that's 11 of the guys that started RWC final)
And he has a youth "A" team in the wings:
Ben Arrous, Tolofua, Attoub, Jacquet, Samson, Lapandry, Lauret, Galan, Doussain, Plisson, Fickou, Bastareaud, Martin, Fall, Buttin
So that's 3 pretty decent looking teams. I wonder who would win in a mini-tournament?
Posted 19:21 18th November 2012
curates_egg says...
Would be great to see Fickou in international action
Posted 16:36 18th November 2012