France recall Chabal
Exciting prospect: Alexis Palisson
France Head Coach Marc Lièvremont has recalled Sébastien Chabal and named twelve uncapped players in his 26 man squad to tour Australia later this month.
Limited by the fact that he could not select players from Clermont, Stade Français, Toulouse and Perpignan, who provided 19 of the 34 players used in the Six Nations but will be involved in the Top 14 play-offs, Les Bleus' coach has once again scoured the depths of French rugby to form his group.
As expected Biarritz, who failed to qualify for the semi-finals, provide the biggest contingent with six players. Exciting Brive full-back Alexis Palisson has been give the nod as has Lièvremont's younger brother, Dax flank Mathieu Lièvremont. Sale Sharks number eight Chabal will also be used as a lock.
Castres lock Lionel Nallet retains his place as captain.
Amongst the new faces are Leicester hooker Benjamin Kayser, Albi prop Pierre Correia and Biarritz prop Benoit Lecouls, who at 30 years of age is surely nothing more than a part-time gap filler.
Montauban loose forward Yannick Caballero earns his for call up to the national squad after proving to be one of the best line-out jumpers in the Top 14.
Toulouse centre/wing Maxime Mermoz, who is rumoured to be on his way to Perpignan next season, has been released by his club and is joined by other first-timers Sébastien Tillous-Borde, who is rewarded for an excellent season at scrum-half for Castres, Albi centre Thibault Lacroix and wings Jean-Baptiste Peyras who scored eight tries for Bayonne this season and David Janin from Bourgoin.
Lièvremont was further hampered in his selection by the absence of Morgan Parra and Yann David, who are on duty with the U20 side in Wales.
Notable omissions are Arnaud Méla, Ibrahim Diarra and Julien Tomas.
France:
Forwards (14): Lionel Faure (Sale), Benjamin Kayser (Leicester), Sébastien Bruno (Sale), Pierre Correia (Albi), Renaud Boyoud (Dax), Benoît Lecouls (Biarritz), David Couzinet (Biarritz), Lionel Nallet (Castres), Sébastien Chabal (Sale), Mathieu Lièvremont (Dax), Yannick Caballero (Montauban), Louis Picamoles (Montpellier), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz).
Backs (12): Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Sébastien Tillous-Borde (Castres), Benjamin Boyet (Bourgoin), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Maxime Mermoz (Toulouse), Thibault Lacroix (Albi), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Benjamin Thiéry (Biarritz), Pépito Elhorga (Bayonne), Jean-Baptiste Peyras (Bayonne), David Janin (Bourgoin).