France on Monday unveiled five new faces in a 28-strong squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa and Australia from June 12 to July 4.
Deprived of 101-time capped skipper Fabien Pelous, the team will have two co-captains in Biarritz duo Jerome Thion and Dimitri Yachvili.
The new blood for the tour comes in the shape of 32-year-old Biarritz prop Denis Avril, lock Romain Millo-Chluski (22) and centre Florian Fritz (21) both of Toulouse, Narbonne’s 24-year-old winger Vincent Candelon, and Biarritz backrower Thierry Dusautoir (23).
”We have adopted an open-minded philosophy,” said coach Bernard Laporte.
”When players play well for their clubs, we are keen to have a look at them at this level.”
Aside from Pelous, the touring side will also be without flanker Serge Betsen, but do count veteran Olivier Magne in their ranks.
However, there is no place for Betsen’s Biarritz team-mate and fellow back row forward Imanol Harinordoquy, who only last year celebrated a Six Nations Grand Slam along with Betsen and Magne but has since fallen out of favour with coach Bernard Laporte.
France are to play two Tests in South Africa, on June 18 in Durban and Port Elizabeth a week later, and wrap up the tour with a third Test against Australia on July 2 in Brisbane. – Sapa-AFP