Maverick five-eighth Frederic Michalak has been left out of the 30-strong France training squad ahead of the Six Nations.
Michalak only returned to French club rugby in November after helping steer the Sharks past the Blue Bulls in South Africa’s Currie Cup final, but his wavering form for Toulouse has failed to impress coach Marc Lievremont.
Misfiring Montpellier five-eighth Francois Trinh-Duc also failed to make the squad, which will be cut to 23 next week ahead of the opening Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin on February 7.
Lievremont has plumped for just one specialist No.10 in Lionel Beauxis, who ironically has been playing much of his club rugby for Stade Francais at full-back and missed all the November internationals because of a thigh injury.
Toulouse veteran Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Bourgoin’s Morgan Parra offer options for both halfback slots, with Castres’ Sebastien Tillous-Borde the sole out-and-out No.9 in the squad.
There was a call-up for Perpignan back row forward Damien Chouly, capped twice during France’s tour to New Zealand in June 2007, but 50-cap Biarritz enforcer Imanol Harinordoquy was not named.
Clermont flanker Julien Bonnaire, Biarritz lock Jerome Thion and Perpignan hooker Guilhem Guirado all make their first appearances in a France squad since the 2008 edition of the Six Nations.
And Toulouse backs Clement Poitrenaud and Florian Fritz, who both missed that tournament through injury, have been given the nod this time around.
Poitrenaud will be up against clubmate Maxime Medard for the fullback spot, while Fritz will face stiff opposition for a midfield berth from Yannick Jauzion, Benoit Baby and once-capped Maxime Mermoz.
Mermoz’s form for Perpignan has been outstanding and he was included by Lievremont at the expense of Biarritz veteran Damien Traille.
Clermont flyers Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu will compete with Toulouse’s Cedric Heymans and 21-year-old Alexis Palisson of Brive for the wing spots.
Up front, Sale lock Sebastien Chabal was named along with hooker Benjamin Kayser, who has impressed for Leicester in the European Cup and English Premiership.
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