Publications
Partners
Paris - Thierry Dusautoir will return as captain of France for the November Test matches against New Zealand (November 9), Tonga (November 16) and South Africa (November 23), manager Philippe Saint-Andre said on Friday.
The 2011 World Player of the Year was sidelined earlier this year with badly sprained ligaments in his right knee.
But Saint-Andre, in unveiling a 30-strong training squad for the Tests said that he was confident that the 31-year-old Toulouse flanker would be able to resume his role as captain.
"Thierry Dusautoir will be our captain if he is 100 percent fit and the latest news about him is reassuring. From what we know, he has made a good recovery from his knee injury," he said.
"He will be at 100 percent for Toulouse in the European Cup and for his return to the French team."
Dusautoir will take over the captaincy from lock Pascal Pape who replaced him for last year's November Tests when the flanker was first injured. Pape was named as vice-captain this time around.
Also back in the training squad after missing out on the first sessions in September are Toulouse back-rower Louis Picamoles and Castres prop Yannick Forestier.
They take over from Antonie Classen of Castres and the uncapped Antoine Burban of Stade Francais
Forestier is back in the French squad for the first time since the Six Nations game against Wales in February.
"He has made a good start to the season, moves well and we know how strong he is mentally, his character," Saint-Andre said of Forestier.
The second training session at the team base in Marcoussis outside of Paris will run from October 27-30.
The 30-strong France squad for the second training session (October 27-30) ahead of the November Tests:-
Forwards: (16): Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Mtro), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Franais), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Franais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pap (Stade Franais), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Mtro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Damian Chouly (Perpignan), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse),
Backs:(14): Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Mtro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Camille Lopez (Perpignan), Remi Tals (Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Maxime Mdard (Toulouse), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Brice Dulin (Castres), Yoann Huget (Toulouse).
