France coach Fabien Galthie has named nine uncapped players in a 42-man squad to prepare for Sunday’s Round 2 Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales at Principality Stadium.
There is still no room for outside half Romain Ntamack, wing Damian Penaud and No 8 Gregory Alldritt. Ntamack, who was previously sidelined for a kidney concern, revealed a muscle injury on his social media.
Matthieu Jalibert looks set to retain the No 10 shirt for a second consecutive match following his brilliant display during the 36-14 opening win over Ireland on Thursday. That game featured two tries from wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who now has 23 tries in 23 caps.
Centre Kalvin Gourgues, who won his second cap last week, has been replaced by Emilien Gailleton. Lock Thibaud Flament and back rower Paul Boudehent are back in the squad after missing the Six Nations opener.
Among the nine uncapped players, flyhalf Axel Desperes has been called up for the first time.
France Squad v Wales
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Hugo Auradou (Pau), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Joshua Brennan (Toulouse), Georges-Henri Colombe (Toulouse), François Cros (Toulouse), Alexandre Fischer (Bayonne), Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Rc Toulon), Mickaël Guillard (Lyon), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Maxime Lamothe (Bordeaux Bègles), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Temo Matiu (Bordeaux Bègles), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Régis Montagne (Clermont Auvergne), Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Charles Ollivon (Rc Toulon), Thomas Staniforth (Castres Olympique), Tevita Tatafu (Bayonne)
Backs: Grégoire Arfeuil (Pau), Théo Attissogbe (Pau), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Bègles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau), Romain Buros (Bordeaux Bègles), Thibault Daubagna (Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux Bègles), Axel Desperes (Pau), Gaël Dréan (Rc Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Émilien Gailleton (Pau), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Pau), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux Bègles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux Bègles), Noah Nene (Stade Français Paris), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), Baptiste Serin (Rc Toulon), Cheikh Tiberghien (Bayonne)