France’s Tillous-Borde in against Wales

Toulon halfback Sebastien Tillous-Borde has recovered from a knee injury in time to get called up for France’s Six Nations game against Wales.

Tillous-Borde, 29, comes in for Castres’ Rory Kockott, who suffered a quadriceps injury in last Saturday’s 18-11 loss to Ireland.

Kockott’s selection was already up in the air as his performance at Lansdowne Road had been criticised by coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

“Sebastien is 100 per cent fit. It was logical to call him up,” Saint-Andre told AFP.

“I talked to Rory and he needs two or three weeks off at least. He really needs to rest.”

Tillous-Borde started in all three of November’s Test matches but was sidelined for the Scotland and Ireland clashes due to a bruised knee.

“If I play, it means I was deemed ready, I trained normally this week,” the Toulon scrumhalf said.

Bordeaux-Begles’ five-eighth Pierre Bernard, 25, was also called up to replace prop Nicolas Mas, while wing Teddy Thomas is suffering from a sprained ankle and makes way for his Toulouse counterpart Gael Fickou.

Saint-Andre could be forced into a further change depending on the outcome of lock Pascal Pape’s citing hearing later Thursday.

The 34-year-old faces a ban after kneeing Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip in the back.

France, who beat Scotland 15-8 before surrendering to Ireland, host Wales at the Stade de France on February 28.

France Squad

Forwards (16): Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Franais), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Franais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing-Mtro), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle)

Backs (14): Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Rmi Tales (Castres), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Pierre Bernard (Bordeaux-Begles), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Remi Lamerat (Castres), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Scott Spedding (Bayonne), Brice Dulin (Racing-Mtro)

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