France bring in injured star ahead of Bok clash
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Romain Ntamack was included in France's 42-strong squad for their November internationals against Australia, South Africa and Japan.
Ntamack suffered a twisted right ankle in early September and is currently on a return-to-play schedule for Top 14 leaders Toulouse.
Among the 41 others called up by head coach Fabien Galthie are eight uncapped players including Lyon wing Ethan Dumortier and Bordeaux-Begles centre Pablo Uberti.
There is one player from the second division ProD2 included, Oyonnax prop Thomas Laclayat.
There is a long list of injured players not considered for selection, notably wings Gabin Villieres and Arthur Vincent, goal-kicking fullback Melvyn Jaminet, flank Francois Cros and prop Cyril Baille.
La Rochelle duo Teddy Thomas and Brice Dulin, as well as scrumhalf Baptiste Serin and fly-half Louis Carbonel, miss the cut.
The squad will meet up on October 23 ahead of three back-to-back Test matches.
France will go into the series as the No.1 ranked team in the world after a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2010 and a winning tour of Japan in July that left them unbeaten in the season for the first time.
World player of the year Antoine Dupont, lock Cameron Woki and the hardy back-row combination of Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon and Anthony Jelonch are all included along with flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert, centre and defensive leader Gael Fickou and fullback Thomas Ramos.
Fiji-born Clermont wing Alivereti Raka makes his return to the squad for the first time since 2020 after a good start to the Top 14 season which sees him sitting atop the try-scoring charts with five.
Squad:
Forwards: Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Alexandre Becognee, Pierre Bourgarit, Dylan Cretin, Sipili Falatea, Thibaud Flament, Killian Geraci, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mohamed Haouas, Anthony Jelonch, Jordan Joseph, Thomas Laclayat, Sekou Macalou, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Charles Ollivon, Dany Priso, Yoan Tanga, Romain Taofifenua, Florian Verhaeghe, Reda Wardi, Paul Willemse, Cameron Woki.
Backs: Pierre-Louis Barassi, Leo Berdeu, Anthony Bouthier, Romain Buros, Baptiste Couilloud, Jonathan Danty, Ethan Dumortier, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Matthieu Jalibert, Matthis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos, Pablo Uberti.
France's November internationals:
November 5, v Australia at Paris
November 12, v South Africa at Marseille
November 20, v Japan at Toulouse