Big omissions as France recall record try-scorer
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: France have recalled record try-scorer Damian Penaud to prepare for their Nations Championship matches against New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
Head coach Fabien Galthie dropped Penaud during the team’s successful Six Nations defence earlier this year, preventing the 29-year-old back from adding to his 40 international tries.
He was one of 12 Bordeaux-Begles players called up to the 39-man training squad, which included flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert but not electric winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who has been given some time to rest.
The 23-year-old, who has scored 29 tries in his 27 Tests for France, looks to be already well on his way to breaking Penaud’s record before long.
The 39-man group did not include any players from either Toulouse or Montpellier, who will play in the Top 14 Final next weekend.
Galthie is due to announce his final touring squad on Wednesday, but the likes of Toulouse scrumhalf Antoine Dupont and fullback Thomas Ramos are likely to be rested alongside Bielle-Biarrey.
Australian-born lock Tom Staniforth, who played for France ‘A’ in their 35-19 victory over an England XV in a non-cap match on Friday, is part of the 39-man group.
France play in New Zealand on July 4, away to Australia a week later and then finish off with a trip to Japan on July 18.
Their three home matches in the inaugural competition will take place in November.
FORWARDS: Moses Alo-Emile (Stade français), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Demba Bamba (Racing 92), Pierre Bochaton (UBB), Esteban Capilla (Bayonne), Sipili Falatea (UBB), Marko Gazzotti (UBB), Loïs Guérois (Castres), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Maxime Lamothe (UBB), Lucas Martin (Bayonne), Barnabé Massa (Clermont), Temo Matiu (UBB), Régis Montagne (Clermont), Boris Palu (UBB), Jefferson Poirot (UBB), Emerick Setiano (Bayonne), Tom Staniforth (Castres), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne), Killian Tixeront (Clermont), Reda Wardi (La Rochelle).
BACKS: Christian Ambadiang (Castres), Théo Attissogbe (Pau), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (UBB), Mathis Ferté (Toulon), Théo Forner (Perpignan), Emilien Gailleton (Pau), Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (Pau), Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle), Matthieu Jalibert (UBB), Baptiste Jauneau (Clermont), Louis Le Brun (Castres), Nolann Le Garrec (La Rochelle), Maxime Lucu (UBB), Yoram Moefana (UBB), Damian Penaud (UBB), Max Spring (Racing 92).
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