Plisson out, Lopez in for France

Mon, Nov 14, 2016, 12:49 PM
AFP
by AFP

Clermont's Camille Lopez has been included in the France squad to face Australia on Saturday after first choice fly-half François Trinh-Duc was ruled out with a broken arm.

Lopez, back in the fold for the first time since the Six Nations tournament in March 2015, is preferred to Jules Plisson in the 32-strong squad for the match at Stade de France in Paris.

Trinh-Duc broke his right arm in France's 52-8 victory over Samoa in Toulouse on Saturday.

Francois Trinh-Duc broke his arm against Samoa. Photo; Getty ImagesAfter earning the last of his nine caps in the Six Nations, Lopez was left out of the France squad for the 2015 World Cup by then-coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

He owes his recall to new coach Guy Noves while Plisson, initially called up for the squad to face Samoa, is overlooked for Australia.

Centre Maxime Mermoz and back row forward Damien Chouly are recalled to the squad while two other players are included for the first time: Toulon prop Xavier Chiocci and Montpellier back-rower Kelian Galletier.

Racing 92 fullback Brice Dulin is retained despite the return for his club of Maxime Médard, initially left out of the squad because of injury.

France squad to face Australia:

Forwards (18) Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Remi Bonfils (Stade Francais), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Xavier Chiocci (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Kélian Galletier (Montpellier), Kévin Gourdon (La Rochelle), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Arthur Iturria (Clermont), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Julien Le Devedec (Brive), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Louis Picamoles (Northampton/ENG), Clement Ric (Clermont), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont).

Backs (14): Djibril Camara (Stade Francais), Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Racing 92), Gaël Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Rcmi Lamerat (Clermont), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Baptiste Serin (Bordeaux-Begles), Scott Spedding (Clermont), Virimi Vakatawa (FFR)

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