Recalled: Mathieu Bastareaud
France coach Philippe Saint-André has named Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud in his 33-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship.
Stade Français lock Pascal Papé retains the captaincy handed to him for the November Tests despite the return to the squad of Thierry Dusautoir.
Les Bleus won all three games under Papé's captaincy against Australia, Argentina and Samoa - and that was enough to convince Saint-André to stick with 45-cap veteran.
Dusautoir has captained France 31 times in 54 appearances, most notably at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand where France reached the final and he was named international player of the year.
Bastareaud has been out of favour since the win over England in March 2010 but has been in excellent form for Toulon and returns to fill the gap left by injured stalwart Aurelien Rougerie.
Elsewhere, Saint-André has largely stuck with the group that he used in the November Tests, with the only uncapped player being 22-year-old Perpignan lock Romain Taofifeuna.
There are however recalls for Perpignan hooker Guilhem Guirado, Racing wing Benjamin Fall and Racing prop Luc Ducalcon.
There is no place for Toulon flank Pierrick Gunther nor Stade Français fly-half Jules Plisson.
The squad will be cut to 23 players on January 28 with France playing their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3.
France squad:
Forwards (19): Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), David Attoub (Stade Français), Luc Ducalcon (Racing-Metro), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais, capt), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Biarritz), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs:(14) Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Jean-Marcellin Buttin (Clermont), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)
Comments
markpat says...
@BMakka8 - where did I say he was rubbish? He's not good enough to be his own backup though, surely?
Posted 13:52 12th January 2013
carpelone says...
bzhjjm
Parisse lacks of that brute power N8s needs to gain yards from the base or to crash over the try-line (see Picamoles, or Read). Otherwise, he is one of the finest players around. And Italy may get couple of scalps this 6N.
Posted 10:17 12th January 2013
bzhjjm says...
@ carpelone
Picamoles is there, and Parisse has a terminal case of being Italian.
Posted 02:41 12th January 2013
melkdave says...
@Firepower
He isnt even the best 8 in Britain,both N.Esater and SOB are alot better ,and then theres S.Parisee and L.Picomoles
Posted 01:07 12th January 2013
carpelone says...
Firepower
What about Parisse and Picamoles?
Posted 22:07 11th January 2013
firepower says...
Toby Faletau is the best No.8 in the Northern Hemisphere. Correct me if I am wrong:)
Posted 21:16 11th January 2013
makemehappy says...
Just not fit enough. Ridiculous choice in a very good squad, which is second only to NZ's.
Posted 19:03 11th January 2013
NHsaints says...
Interesting selections, no real surprises apart from the omission of Gunther although I guess you can only have so many 7's in the squad, especially with Dusatoir returning...
Posted 18:16 11th January 2013
Bambo says...
markpat - Imanol H is just back with BO after injury so isn't match fit for 6N. I hope he will back next time, probably for one last shot in blue. Allez!
Posted 17:38 11th January 2013
carpelone says...
He looks like he beefed up a bit
The question is: escargots or crustaches?
Posted 16:57 11th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Sirtidychris: "the can definitely win". Love it. You should be a politician.
Posted 13:41 11th January 2013
BMakka8 says...
@markpat Louis Picamoles is probably the best 8 in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment.
Posted 13:20 11th January 2013
sirtidychris says...
That squad has the potential to be the best in the world !! however im not totally convinced by PSA game plan and then you have the french potential to implode at any moment to take into account. The team is also still finding its best match day 15, whilst they can definately win the SN with that squad, i think next year will be when the french will really start to be a potent beast !!
Posted 12:36 11th January 2013
melkdave says...
Thats a hell of squad,and France remain ny favourites to cliam the championship,albet not with a slam though..PSA has let the old guard slowly disappear by the looks of it,no IH,is a bit of a surprise,but France have enough good 8s i to cover LP if needed.
Posted 12:18 11th January 2013
atg77 says...
ominous signs... last time he played we all know what happened... France gagner le grand chelem
Posted 11:34 11th January 2013
markpat says...
No Imanol Harinordoquy? Is he injured? Who will cover #8?
Posted 11:24 11th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Thinking about poor Brian ODriscoll and the tackles he's going to have to make this 6 nations. How's he going to get to Lions uninjured! If he can come out as the best 13 with this then he's a legend and should be Lions captain.
Posted 10:57 11th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Clearly with Tuilangi in mind. What a clash that will be! Tuilangi made Nonu look light weight but an in form Bastareud could be trouble for Manu. Don't think so though as he relishes these match ups.
Posted 10:49 11th January 2013