France skipper Thierry Dusautoir has been left out of a 25-man squad for Saturday’s match against England at Twickenham due to injury.
Dusautoir sustained the injury during a training session earlier in the week but is expected to recover in time for the return match between these sides in Paris a week later.
Other noteable absentees from the squad are Toulon half-backs Frederic Michalak and Sebastien Tillous-Borde although Bleus coach Philippe Saint-Andrè said the duo were in the running to make his final 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.
The global showpiece starts on September 18 and France’s opening match is against Italy at Twickenham on September 19.
France squad:
Uini Atonio, Xavier Chiocci, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Dimitri Szarzewski, Alexandre Flanquart, Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Loann Goujon, Louis Picamoles, Rory Kockott, Morgan Parra, Remi Tales, Francois Trinh-Duc, Alexandre Dumoulin, Gael Fickou, Remi Lamerat, Brice Dulin, Sofiane Guitoune, Yoann Huget, Scott Spedding.
