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France’s next international assignment will be a two test tour of Argentina in June. Scheduled for June 18 and 25 the dates are to coincide with the Top 14’s play-off’s.
Players from four Semi Finalists will not be considered for the tour, leaving an under pressure Guy Noves to find a solution by naming a roster without players from the best clubs. Also excluded are to be players from the two clubs who lose their respective barrage play-offs on June 11.
Based on the Top 14 rankings at present this will leave Noves without all players from Clermont, Racing 92, Toulon, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Toulouse. For the recently completed Six Nations championship Noves used players from all these clubs.
The two others to have players capped were Stade Français and La Rochelle. Of them the Parisians were significant contributors with eight players – Jules Plisson, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Jonathan Danty, Djibril Camara, Antoine Burban and Hugo Bonnveal. La Rochelle provided two in the form of Uini Atonio and Vincent Pelo while winger Virimi Vakatawa is attached only to the Sevens program.
Those fit from these two clubs are all prime candidates should their clubs indeed miss out on the barrage. Others from the same clubs could very well be called-up. From La Rochelle back-rower Kevin Gourdon is a prime contender as is Stade Français hooker Rémi Bonfils. In addition the young and highly promising Parisian back-rower Sekou Macalou will likely tour.
Castres mid-fielder Rémi Lamerat will tour. Noves confirmed this himself last week. His club mates Rémy Grosso (pictured), Rory Kockott Christophe Samson and Antoine Tichit are also virtual certainties.
Additional players likely for inclusion include Brive’s goalkicking fullback Gaëtan Germain and Grenoble fly half Jonathan Wisniewski and back-rower Fabien Alexandre.
A new captain will also need to be identified for the tour.
