France bring in reinforcements for All Black series

SQUAD UPDATE: Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi and Bordeaux-Begles midfielder Nicolas Depoortere are among five players to be added to France’s squad for next month’s Test series with New Zealand, the French Rugby Federation announced on Monday.

Barassi, 27, and 22-year-old Depoortere are expected to join the set-up on Wednesday having featured in Saturday’s French Top 14 Final, which Toulouse won in extra-time 39-33.

The pair will travel to New Zealand with Barassi’s club teammate in uncapped forward Josh Brennan, as well as Depoortere’s fellow Bordeaux-Begles squad members in loose forwards Pierre Bochaton and Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, who also are yet to make their international debuts.

Stade Francais fullback Leo Barre is expected to travel with the five, having stayed in France to recover from a dead leg after being named in the original squad.

Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie has named a second-string squad for the three Tests against the All Blacks, deciding to rest key players such as No.8 Gregory Alldritt and fullback Thomas Ramos.

Regular captain Antoine Dupont as well as flyhalf Romain Ntamack are injured, with experienced midfielder Gael Fickou skippering the side.

Barassi, Depoortere, Brennan, Bochaton and Vergnes-Taillefer will only be able to feature in the second and third Tests of the series after an agreement between the French clubs and the national federation.

The first Test takes place on Saturday in Dunedin with the remaining games a week later in Wellington and on July 19 in Hamilton.