Fabien Galthie has named nine uncapped players in his 42-man squad for France’s three end-of-year Tests in November.
Les Bleus host Argentina on 6 November, Georgia on 14 November and New Zealand six days later on the 20th.
Bordeaux-Begles prop Thierry Paiva, Toulouse lock Thibaud Flament, Castres second rower Florent Vanverberghe, and Montpellier forward Florian Verhaeghe are the new faces in the pack.
Paiva’s club teammates in scrumhalf Maxime Lucu and fullback Romain Buros as well as Racing 92 wing Donovan Taofifenua, Toulouse youngster Matthis Lebel and Clermont centre Tana Vili are the rookies among the backs.
Captain Charles Ollivon is missing with a long-term knee injury with centre Gael Fickou, hooker Julian Marchand, scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, No 8 Gregory Alldritt as well as flank Anthony Jelonch, who stood in during July’s series with Australia, as the possible replacements.
The stand-in captain is expected to be named next week after Ollivon announces it to the squad late on Sunday.
Second-choice scrumhalf Baptiste Serin is also absent, but with a shoulder issue, as is tighthead prop Mohamed Haouas, who has a thigh problem.
Racing 92 hooker Camille Chat and Toulon flyhalf Louis Carbonel are ommitted, with Castres’ Gaetan Barlot and Pau’s Antoine Hastoy taking their places.
France squad:
Backs (19) – Romain Buros, Brice Dulin, 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 (23) – 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.
Photo: Getty Images
