Truant Thomas gets the boot
Rising star Teddy Thomas has been sanctioned by French coach Philippe Saint-Andre for missing a training session, and has subsequently been dropped for Saturday's Test against Argentina in Paris.
Thomas made a stunning debut against Fiji, becoming only the second Frenchman to score a hat trick of tries on his first appearance for Les Bleus adn followed that up by scoring his fourth International try in two matches against Australia a week later.
The 21-year-old earned a third straight call-up on Wednesday for the Test against the Pumas but the young Racing-Metro player forgot to attend training on Wednesday evening, along with the squad at the French national training centre at Marcoussis, outside Paris.
And Saint-Andre and his deputies, Yannick Bru and Patrice Lagisquet, decided to drop Thomas and called up Toulouse wing Maxime Medard, who has 40 caps for France, in his place.
"In the France group there are rules that everyone should respect," explained Saint-Andre.
"Teddy, whom we love a lot, has forgotten these. When you play in the France team you have to be beyond reproach and respectful on and off the field.
"I had a meeting yesterday [Wednesday] with Teddy and he understands. I'm sure it will make him grow up."
France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Xavier Chiocci.
Replacements from: Guilhem Guirado, Alexandre Menini, Uini Atonio, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Yannick Nyanga, Charles Ollivon, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud, Benjamin Fall.
Date: Saturday, November 22
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 21.00 (20.00 GMT; 17.00 Argentina time):
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
