France have expanded to a 42-man squad for their Nations Championship fixture against South Africa, calling up seven players in the wake of their 54-17 win over Fiji in Lyon on Saturday.
The most significant absentee is flyhalf Romain Ntamack, who left the Fiji Test with a left shoulder injury sustained in the first half. Louis Carbonel comes into the squad as his replacement.
Among the call-ups, Teddy Thomas makes his first France appearance in five years — the 33-year-old winger last featured in July 2021 in Australia, where he earned his 28th cap. Centre Gaël Fickou, 32, is also recalled and stands two appearances short of 100 caps, with his 98th Test having come against Australia in Paris a year ago.
Hooker Julien Marchand returns to the squad after coming through a Top 14 outing for Toulouse against Clermont following a spell on the injury list. Winger Gaël Drean's inclusion is particularly notable — he is back in contention after more than five months out following cardiac surgery in June, having returned to action for Toulon on Saturday.
Pau contribute two of the seven call-ups in winger Grégoire Arfeuil and loose forward Loïc Credoz.