MATHIEU BASTAREAUD STILL has a future with France despite being left out of a provisional 30-man squad, according to Guy Noves.
The new France coach omitted the Toulon centre when he named his first squad last week, as well as five other members of the country’s Rugby World Cup squad, with Noves keen to introduce a more youthful look to the side.
Bastareaud has won 39 caps since making his debut in 2009, scoring three tries along the way — the last coming back in March against Italy in the Six Nations.
“He is a player whose potential we know and this does not mean he has been completely discarded,” Noves told Midi Olympique.
“Quite simply, and I say this humbly, we have the aim of playing a different form of rugby to recent years. Mathieu Bastareaud is also capable of adapting his game, though.”
France begin their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Paris on 6 February.
