France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Tuesday called up eight uncapped players for his 33-strong squad to prepare for November’s Test matches against Australia, Argentina and Samoa.
The new men are Racing-Metro prop Ben Arous, Castres prop Yannick Forestier, Toulon lock Jocelino Suta, Perpignan lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, Toulon flanker Pierrick Gunther, Stade Francais fly-half Jules Plisson, Toulouse centre Gael Fickou and Toulon winger Vincent Martin.
Back into the squad come regulars Thierry Dusautoir, who regains the captaincy, winger Vincent Clerc and prop Nicolas Mas, all of whom were rested for the summer tour of Argentina.
Also back in the reckoning is playmaker Frederic Michalak, who returned from a spell in South Africa to play for Toulon, but there was no place for veteran centre Aurelien Rougerie of Clermont.
The squad will be whittled back to 23 on November 4 ahead of the games against Australia on November 10, Argentina (November 17) and Samoa (November 24).
The French squad to play Test matches in November against Australia (November 10), Argentina (November 17) and Samoa (November 24):-
Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Christopher Tolofua (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro), David Attoub (Stade Francais), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), Pierrick Gunther (Toulon), Wenceslas Lauret (Biarritz), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs: Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Jules Plisson (Stade Francais), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Vincent Martin (Toulon), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon).
