FRANÇOIS TRINH-DUC has been called into France’s 31-man training squad as they prepare for their Six Nations meeting with Wales in Cardiff in two weekends’ time.
Les Bleus have won two games from two under new head coach Guy Novès so far, leaving them trailing early Six Nations leaders England on points difference.
The French squeezed past Italy in the first round and then beat Ireland by a single point last weekend at Stade de France, though a trip to face the Welsh on Friday 26 February [KO 8.05pm] will test their sense of growing momentum.
As they prepare for the clash with Warren Gatland’s men at their Marcoussis training base, Montpellier out-half François Trinh-Duc has been reintegrated into the group, having missed the first two rounds as he continued his recovery from injury with his Top 14 club.
Toulon prop Xavier Chiocci and Racing 92 flanker Bernard le Roux, who missed the opening rounds due to being married in his native South Africa, have also been added to the squad by Novès.
Chiocci replaces loosehead Eddy Ben Arous, who was injured against Ireland, while Kevin Gourdon drops out to make way for le Roux. Trinh-Duc comes into the squad in place of the injured Scott Spedding, while Gaël Fickou is available again after missing the Ireland game due to personal reasons.
Wesley Fofana and Alexandre Dumoulin both remain sidelined through injury.
It is the return of Trinh-Duc that has caused most interest in France, given how reluctant previous head coach Philippe Saint-André was to call on the Montpellier man’s abilities.
Trinh-Duc was omitted from France’s World Cup squad last year, but Novès is on the record as being a fan. The 29-year-old may have to play back-up to Jules Plisson at first, with the Stade Français man having impressed in the number 10 shirt in the opening rounds.
Toulouse halfback Jean-Marc Doussain provided cover for Plisson against Italy and Ireland, but Trinh-Duc gives Novès a genuine competitor for 24-year-old Plisson.
France training squad for Wales clash:
Forwards: Uini Atonio, Antoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Xavier Chiocci, Damien Chouly, Alexandre Flanquart, Loann Goujon, Guilhem Guirado, Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Yoann Maestri, Vincent Pelo, Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Sébastien Vahaamahina.
Backs: Sébastien Bézy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Jean-Marc Doussain, Gaël Fickou, Rémi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Médard, Maxime Mermoz, Marvin O’Connor, Jules Plisson, Teddy Thomas, François Trinh-Duc, Virimi Vakatawa.
