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France announce two squad changes for Italy clash
By Jon Newcombe
Leinster prop Ribah Slimani has been called into the France squad as the unbeaten Guinness Men’s Six Nations leaders prepare to tackle Italy in Lille next Sunday.
Slimani, 36, has been drafted in as a replacement for Bayonne prop, Tevita Tatafu, having missed the first two rounds, as well as the entire November programme.
The 123kg powerhouse won the last of his 59 caps on last summer’s tour to New Zealand, which France lost 3-0, and is rumoured to be on his way back to France at the end of the season.
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Last month, Midi Olympique reported that Toulon had snapped up the veteran tight-head on a one-year deal.
Joining Slimani in the Les Bleus’ squad is Racing 92’s uncapped fly-half Ugo Seunes, who has kicked over 100 points in his first season in the Top 14, having joined from Pro D2 outfit, Aurillac.
Seunes, 25, takes the place of injured Bordeaux-Begles centre Yoram Moefana.
Updated France squad:
Forwards
Dorian ALDEGHERI (Stade Toulousai)
Hugo AURADOU (Section Paloise)
Cyril BAILLE (Stade Toulousain)
Paul BOUDEHENT (Stade Rochelais)
Joshua BRENNAN (Stade Toulousain)
Georges-Henri COLOMBE (Stade Toulousain)
François CROS (Stade Toulousain)
Thibaud FLAMENT (Stade Toulousain)
Jean-Baptiste GROS (RC Toulon)
Mickaël GUILLARD (Lyon OU Rugby)
Oscar JEGOU (Stade Rochelais)
Anthony JELONCH (Stade Toulousain)
Maxime LAMOTHE (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Julien MARCHAND (Stade Toulousain)
Temo MATIU (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Peato MAUVAKA (Stade Toulousain)
Emmanuel MEAFOU (Stade Toulousain)
Régis MONTAGNE (ASM Clermont)
Rodrigue NETI (Stade Toulousain)
Lenni NOUCHI (Montpellier HR)
Charles OLLIVON (RC Toulon)
Rabah SLIMANI (Leinster Rugby)
Thomas STANIFORTH (Castres Olympique)
Sacha ZEGUEUR (Section Paloise)
Backs
Grégoire ARFEUIL (Section Paloise)
Théo ATTISSOGBE (Section Paloise)
Pierre-Louis BARASSI (Stade Toulousain)
Léo BARRÉ (Stade Français)
Louis BIELLE-BIARREY (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Fabien BRAU-BOIRIE (Pau Section)
Thibault DAUBAGNA (Pau Section)
Axel DESPERES (Section Paloise)
Gaël DRÉAN (RC Toulon)
Antoine DUPONT (Stade Toulousain)
Émilien GAILLETON (Section Paloise)
Kalvin GOURGUES (Stade Toulousain)
Matthieu JALIBERT (Union Bordeaux Bègles)
Noah NENE (Stade Français Paris)
Thomas RAMOS (Stade Toulousain)
Baptiste SERIN (RC Toulon)
Ugo SEUNES (Racing 92)
Gabin VILLIÈRE (RC Toulon)
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