France have named a reshuffled 42-man squad for their Nations Championship fixture against South Africa this week, calling up seven players in the wake of Saturday's 54-17 win over Fiji in Lyon.
The most significant absentee is flyhalf Romain Ntamack, who left the field with a left shoulder injury in the first half against Fiji and is replaced in the squad by Louis Carbonel.
Among the recalls, Teddy Thomas returns for the first time since July 2021, when he earned the last of his 28 caps in Australia — a five-year absence from the international setup. Centre Gaël Fickou, 32, is also back and stands one appearance short of 100 caps, his 98th having come against Australia in Paris a year ago.
Hooker Julien Marchand earns a recall after returning from injury with Toulouse in their Top 14 clash against Clermont, while winger Gaël Drean also comes back in having made his competitive return for Toulon on Saturday following more than five months out after cardiac surgery in June. The Pau pair of winger Grégoire Arfeuil and loose forward Loïc Credoz complete the call-ups.