MARCOUSSIS, France: Manager Philippe Saint-Andre has called up eight uncapped players in his 33-man squad as he continues to rejuvenate France ahead of next month’s three Test matches.
The squad, which can be amended in between matches, features 15 players aged 25 or less while only 10 players from the 2011 World Cup were named yesterday.
Toulon flanker Pierrick Gunther and Toulouse centre Gael Fickou, 23 and 18 respectively, were the among the exciting prospects in the squad.
“I wanted to stay true to what we’ve done in Argentina (last June),” Saint-Andre told a news conference.
“We need to change generations,” he added.
“They will come (to the training camp) and discover the system, live with players such as (Thierry) Dusautoir and (Pascal) Pape.”
Captain Dusautoir, who had been rested in June, is recalled.
The squad will be reduced to 23 ahead of a training camp which will start five days before the opening November test against Australia at the Stade de France on Nov. 10.
Saint-Andre, however, said he would not hesitate to keep some of the youngsters for the matches if they “can dash through the field”.
World Cup runners-up France also host Argentina in Lille on November 17 and Samoa at the Stade de France a week later.
Meanwhile, New Zealand may be without coach Steve Hansen for their final Bledisloe Cup test against Australia at the weekend after his father died yesterday.
Hansen’s father Des had been ill for some time and the coach had not been part of the team’s preparations this week for the test at Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday, which is a dead rubber after the All Blacks retained the trophy in August.
“The All Blacks family extend our deepest sympathies to Steve and his family at this very difficult time,” All Blacks manager Darren Shand told reporters in Christchurch yesterday.
“Steve and the family thank everyone for their messages and support and ask for privacy at this very challenging time.”
All Blacks players and management have already said this week that Hansen’s absence from the team had not affected their build-up, something Shand reiterated yesterday.
“We have been dealing with this on a day-by-day basis ... and the All Blacks have continued their preparations for the test match against Australia as Des Hansen would want them to do,” Shand added. REUTERS
