Kockott steps up for Les Bleus

 

The 28-year-old former Sharks and Lions scrumhalf – who has been outstanding for his French club Castres since arriving in 2011 and scored 22 points for them in their win over Oyonnax on Saturday – is one of five uncapped players to be called up for the games against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.

 

"I am really happy to have the opportunity to be a member of a prestigious team such as France," Kockott told AFP.

 

The kicking specialist revealed that a place in the French team had been his goal since leaving South Africa.

 

"It is a very proud moment. I have been targeting a place in the France squad since I arrived here.

 

"Everything I did each season was with this goal in mind and why I gave my best," added the Top 14 player of the 2012/13 season, who became eligible for France in July.

 

Saint-Andre said that he would observe Kockott closely as there have been worries over his ability to bond with other players.

 

"It is because of things such as that this training camp (over three days) will be important," said Saint-Andre.

 

"We will cast an eye over how he evolves within this squad, both on and off the pitch. But of primordial concern is the capacity of the players to be good on the pitch and be good competitors. We will see if we continue with the adventure with him after the three days."

 

The other new faces are 24-year-old New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio, who plays for La Rochelle, Toulon prop Xavier Chiocci, Bayonne No.8 Charles Ollivon and Racing-Metro's lively wing Teddy Thomas.

 

Montpellier flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc, who many regard as France's best flyhalf, earns a recall with the other No.10's in the squad Clermont's Camille Lopez and Kockott's halfback partner at Castres Remi Tales.

 

However, there is no place for Saint-Andre's previously favoured two scrum-halves – Lopez's team-mate Morgan Parra, who formed an effective partnership with Trinh-Duc under former coach Marc Lievremont – or the in-form Maxime Machenaud of Racing Metro as Toulon's Sebastien Tillous-Borde got the nod instead to compete with Kockott.

 

Saint-Andre, who has come under increasing pressure with his overall record a mediocre 11 victories, two draws and 16 defeats in his 29 Test matches since taking over from Marc Lievremont after the 2011 World Cup, also dispensed with the services of Clermont's veteran prop Thomas Domingo, and loose forwards South African-born Antonie Claassen and Fulgence Ouedraogo.

 

Experienced hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, like Machenaud and Claassen a stalwart of Racing-Metro, was also left out although his exclusion may be more to do with having injured his left knee in Saturday's 27-16 Top 14 victory over Toulouse.

 

France squad: Xavier Chiocci, Alexandre Menini, Benjamin Kayser, Guilhem Guirado, Nicolas Mas, Uini Atonio, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Romain Taofifenua, Damien Chouly, Thierry Dusautoir, Bernard Le Roux, Yannick Nyanga, Charles Ollivon, Rory Kockott, Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Remi Tales, François Trinh-Duc, Camille Lopez, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Mermoz, Teddy Thomas, Sofiane Guitoune, Benjamin Fall, Brice Dulin, Yoann Huget.