Rugby
France call up teenager
2012-11-18 14:16
Lesquin - Teenage Toulouse centre Gael Fickou has been named by Philippe Saint-Andre in a 27-strong France squad ahead of their one-off Test match against Samoa at the Stade de France next weekend.
Fickou missed out on France's 39-22 victory over Argentina on Saturday and the 33-6 rout of Australia the weekend before, but was called up along with flanker Pierrick Gunther, fullback/wing Benjamin Fall and lock Sebastien Vahaamahina.
"They'll be with us until Tuesday and we'll take a decision on Tuesday evening," Saint-Andre said.
Saint-Andre said that the quartet were summoned as cover for potential injuries following the victory over the Pumas, without giving further details.
"I spoke with Marc Lievremont and other former coaches and there's often been a few problems with rehabilitation and freshness in this third week of matches," he said.
Saint-Andre will name the starting XV on Thursday.
France squad:
Forwards (15): Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (capt, Stade Francais), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Pierrick Gunther (Toulon)
Backs (12): Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro)