France call up seven for Springboks clash as Ntamack ruled out

France have called up seven new players to a reshuffled 42-man squad for this week’s Nations Championship match against South Africa after their 54-17 win over Fiji in Lyon on Saturday. The changes include Teddy Thomas’s return after five years away from international duty. Centre Gael Fickou, who has 98 caps, returns and could move closer to the 100 mark, while hooker Julien Marchand is back following injury for Toulouse’s Top 14 clash against Clermont. Winger Gael Drean is also reinstated after more than five months out due to cardiac surgery in June. France will miss flyhalf Romain Ntamack with a left shoulder injury.