France receive timely flyhalf boost after Bok win
INJURY UPDATE: France flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert was called up on Sunday to the 42-man squad ahead of their Nations Championship match against Argentina next week, the French Rugby Federation confirmed.
The Bordeaux-Begles player had been sidelined since picking up a thigh injury in September.
However, Jalibert had been positive about his chances of returning before France’s 21-19 win over Rugby World Cup holders South Africa in the Nations Championship in Paris on Friday.
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“I’m on the road to recovery; who knows, maybe there will be a nice surprise before the end,” the 28-year-old told broadcaster TF1.
His return comes as a relief to head coach Fabien Galthie, whose primary options for the position; Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos and Antoine Hastoy – are all injured, with the pairing of Maxime Lucu and Antoine Dupont used at half-back against the Springboks.
Toulouse’s Anthony Jelonch and Joshua Brennan have also returned to the fold, along with Bordeaux-Begles’ Nicolas Depoortere and his club teammate winger Hugo Avogadro, who received his first call-up to the national squad.
Hooker Julien Marchand, a last-minute withdrawal against the Springboks, is not on the list, nor are centre Gael Fickou or winger Teddy Thomas, both of whom had returned to the Marcoussis training centre last week.
Next up for Les Bleus is the clash against Argentina at the Stade de France on November 21, with a place in the inaugural Nations Championship final on the line.
France’s 42-player squad:
Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Hugo Auradou, Joshua Brennan, Esteban Capilla, Guillaume Cramont, Francois Cros, Antoine Deliance, Tyler Duguid, Sipili Falatea, Alexandre Fischer, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickael Guillard, Anthony Jelonch, Thomas Laclayat, Maxime Lamothe, Peato Mauvaka, Regis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Charles Ollivon, Jefferson Poirot, Thomas Staniforth, Florian Verhaeghe, Cameron Woki.
Backs: Gregoire Arfeuil, Theo Attissogbe, Hugo Avogadro, Leo Barré, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Louis Carbonel, Nicolas Depoortere, Axel Desperes, Gaël Drean, Antoine Dupont, Mathis Ferte, Emilien Gailleton, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Paul Graou, Matthieu Jalibert, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Tani Vili.
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