Domingo replaces injured Ben Arous
Veteran France prop Thomas Domingo on Monday replaced the injured Eddy Ben Arous in the squad for their final Six Nations match with England this Saturday, the coaching staff announced.
The 29-year-old Domingo, capped 36 times, earns his first call-up since the disappointing tour of Australia last June and comes after the medical staff judged 24-year-old Ben Arous' arm injury he suffered in this past Sunday's 29-0 win over Italy would not heal in time.
Earlier on Monday embattled head coach Philippe Saint-Andre had called up to the training squad Toulouse No.8 Louis Picamoles, who has not featured in this Six Nations campaign because of injury.
The French win in Rome kept alive their hopes of sneaking an unlikely win in the Six Nations this year, but their last win at Twickenham dates back to 2007.
They are presently fourth in the table, two points adrift of England, defending champions Ireland – who travel to bottom side Scotland – and Wales, who play Italy.
The 28-year-old back rower, Picamoles, won the last of his 44 caps against Australia in June 2014 before missing the build-up to the Six Nations tournament through injury.
will take over from Racing-Metro's Wenceslas Lauret who has a thigh injury.
"We want to see what his physical shape is," said coach Philippe Saint-Andre. "He played in the last two Top-14 games for Toulouse."
"Yannick Bru [forwards coach] has been in touch with the staff at Toulouse and they say he is at 100 percent. As we have a back row player injured, that opens the door for the return of Louis Picamoles."
Also back in the training squad are Jocelino Suta, Rémi Tales, Marc Andreu and Yannick Nyanga. The quartet were in the squad for the game against Italy, but were not chosen to travel to Rome at the weekend.
Saint-Andre added that there were injury concerns over flyhalves Camille Lopez (knee) and Jules Plisson (nose), who would undergo medical tests.
Agence France-Presse
