Galthie replaces Matthieu Jalibert and 56-cap veteran in France squad

Bordeaux-Begles fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and Racing 92 lock Romain Taofifenua have joined France’s ever-increasing injury list ahead of the Autumn Nations Series after the most recent round of Top 14 action.

The pair have been removed from Fabien Galthie’s 42-man France squad, and replaced by Racing fly-half Ugo Seunes and Stade Francais’ Baptiste Pesenti.

The change was made a day after Montpellier back-row Lenni Nouchi was also forced to withdraw, and replaced by Bordeaux-Begles’ Pierre Bochaton.

Fears mounted over Jalibert’s availability after he limped from the field in the closing stages of Bordeaux’s 41-12 victory over Bayonne in the Top 14 on Saturday. After the match, he said that it was a recurrence of a right thigh injury that has plagued him for years.

His replacement, Seunes, has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season. The 24-year-old was not only competing in the Pro D2 last season with Aurillac, but was playing in the relegation play-off to avoid being demoted to France’s third division. That came before a summer move to Paris to fill the void left by Owen Farrell, where he has steered Racing to fifth in the Top 14.

Fixture

Internationals

France

17 - 32

Full-time

South Africa

All Stats and Data

France already have a sizeable injury list heading into their autumn campaign, headlined by Antoine Dupont, who continues to recover from his ACL injury.

Les Bleus begin their campaign on November 8 when they host the world champions South Africa, before facing Fiji and Australia.

France’s updated 42-man squad
Forwards
Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse)
Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle)
Hugo Auradou (Pau)
Benjamin Bertrand (Toulouse)
Pierre Bochaton (Bordeaux)
Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle)
Esteban Capilla (Bayonne)
Guillaume Cramont (Toulouse)
Baptiste Erdocio (Montpellier)
Alexandre Fischer (Bayonne)
Thibaud Flament (Toulouse)
Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon)
Mickaël Guillard (Lyon)
Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle)
Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse)
Thomas Laclayat (Pau)
Julien Marchand (Toulouse)
Barnabé Massa (Clermont)
Jimi Maximin (Pau)
Emmanuel MeaFou (Toulouse)
Régis Montagne (Clermont)
Baptiste Pesenti (Stade Français)
Emerick Setiano (Bayonne)
Cameron Woki (Bordeaux)

Backs
Pierre-Louis Barassi (Toulouse)
Léo Barré (Stade Français)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux)
Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau)
Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux)
Gaël Drean (Toulon)
Gaël Fickou (Racing 92)
Emilien Gailleton (Pau)
Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse)
Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Pau)
Baptiste Jauneau (Clermont)
Nolann Le Garrec (La Rochelle)
Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux)
Romain Ntamack (Toulouse)
Damian Penaud (Bordeaux)
Joris Segonds (Bayonne)
Ugo Seunes (Racing 92)
Cheick Tiberghien (Bayonne)