Verhaeghe recalled as France make five changes

France’s staff named their new group on Saturday evening, without waiting for the end of round 8 of the Top 14.

Five in, five out. Regis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Florian Verhaeghe, Paul Graou and Leon Darricarrere join the 42-man group preparing for France v Fiji on Saturday 7 November at 9.10pm in Lyon. Tevita Tatafu, Reda Wardi, Alexandre Fischer, Nolann Le Garrec and Jeremy Ward drop out, L’Equipe reported.

Two returns to watch

Verhaeghe (5 caps) missed the first list on 21 October with a psoas problem. The Montpellier lock, who started against Australia and Japan this summer, is however not in the matchday squad to face Castres on Sunday. He joins Auradou, Brennan, Duguid, Guillard and Staniforth in the position.

Montagne has not played since injuring his calf against Bordeaux-Begles on 10 October. The Clermont prop was not in the squad that beat Racing 92 (37-30) on Saturday, so his call-up says nothing yet about his availability for Lyon.

Graou for Le Garrec, Darricarrere for Ward

Graou joins Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu at scrum-half, in place of Le Garrec, who has suffered a hamstring relapse and already missed La Rochelle’s trip to Paris. In the centres, uncapped Clermont back Darricarrere returns to a group he has already joined for earlier training camps.

After Fiji, France host South Africa on Friday 13 November and Argentina on Saturday 21 November at the Stade de France.