MARCOUSSIS, France: France coach Philippe Saint-Andre yesterday called up eight uncapped players for his 35-man squad for the New Zealand tour next month.
Les Bleus, who won just one game to finish last in the Six Nations, take on the All Blacks on June 8, 15 and 22, with another game against the Auckland Blues scheduled for June 11.
The newcomers are Eddy Ben Arous, Alexandre Flanquart, Camille Lopez, Remi Tales, Adrien Plante, Daniel Koetze, Bernard Le Roux and Noa Nakaitaci.
The main absentee is Montpellier scrum-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who is being rested with Remi Tales (Castres) chosen instead.
Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusatoir will captain the side in the absence of Pascal Pape, the Stade Francais lock who has been sidelined since injuring his back in France’s opening Six Nations defeat to Italy in February.
There is a strong Six Nations presence in Saint-Andre’s list, with regulars such as Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra and Toulon half-back Frederic Michalak. AFP
