France limping into Nations Series as Boks loom

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Scrumhalves Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu and Baptiste Jauneau will compete to replace injured France captain Antoine Dupont for next month’s Nations Series, the French rugby federation announced on Wednesday.

Superstar Dupont is set to be sidelined until December with a knee injury suffered in March and will miss games against South Africa on November 8, Fiji on November 15 and Australia on November 22.

Le Garrec started Les Bleus’ three Tests against New Zealand in July, Jauneau won the last of his two caps against the All Blacks, and Lucu is set to return for his club Bordeaux-Begles this month from a hand issue.

Coach Fabien Galthie has omitted two major names in Charles Ollivon, who returned from injury earlier this month, and fullback Thomas Ramos, absent for personal reasons.

Galthie has included 10 uncapped players in the 42-man squad, including Olympic Rugby Sevens gold medallist winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Bayonne’s in-form loose forward Esteban Capilla and breakthrough Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues.

In addition to Dupont, Galthie will be without prop Uini Atonio, centre Yoram Moefana, hooker Peato Mauvaka, flanker Francois Cros, and wingers Theo Attissogbe and Gabin Villiere due to injuries.

France Squad

Backs: Cheick Tiberghien, Leo Barre; Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Gael Drean, Damian Penaud, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang; Pierre-Louis Barassi, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou, Emilien Gailleton, Kalvin Gourgues; Matthieu Jalibert, Romain Ntamack, Joris Segonds; Baptiste Jauneau, Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu

Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Paul Boudehent, Esteban Capilla, Alexandre Fischer, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Lenni Nouchi, Cameron Woki; Hugo Auradou, Thibaud Flament, Mickael Guillard, Emmanuel Meafou, Romain Taofifenua, Jimi Maximin; Dorian Aldegheri, Thomas Laclayat, Regis Montagne, Emerick Setiano; Julien Marchand, Guillaume Cramont, Barnabe Massa; Jean-Baptiste Gros, Baptiste Erdocio, Benjamin Bertrand