Thierry
Dusautoir will return as captain of France for the November Test matches.
They
play New Zealand (November 9), Tonga (November 16) and South Africa (November
23).
The
2011 World Player of the Year was sidelined earlier this year with badly
sprained ligaments in his right knee.
But
manager Philippe Saint-Andre, in unveiling a 30-strong training squad for the
Tests, said that he was confident that the 31-year-old Toulouse flank would be
able to resume his role as captain.
"Thierry
Dusautoir will be our captain if he is 100 percent fit and the latest news
about him is reassuring. From what we know, he has made a good recovery from
his knee injury," he said.
"He
will be at 100 percent for Toulouse in the European Cup and for his return to
the French team."
Dusautoir
will take over the captaincy from lock Pascal Pape who replaced him for last
year's November Tests when the flank was first injured. Pape was named as vice-captain
this time around.
Also
back in the training squad after missing out on the first sessions in September
are Toulouse back-rower Louis Picamoles and Castres prop Yannick Forestier.
They
take over from Antonie Claassen of Castres and the uncapped Antoine Burban of
Stade Francais
Forestier
is back in the French squad for the first time since the Six Nations game
against Wales in February.
"He
has made a good start to the season, moves well and we know how strong he is
mentally, his character," Saint-Andre said of Forestier.
The
second training session at the team base in Marcoussis outside of Paris will
run from October 27-30.
France squad:
Forwards: Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier
(Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing-Métro),
Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Alexandre Flanquart
(Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pap (Stade Francais),
Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux
(Racing-Métro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier),
Damian Chouly (Perpignan), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse),
Backs: Jean-Marc Doussain (Toulouse), Maxime Machenaud
(Racing-Métro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Camille Lopez (Perpignan), Remi Tals
(Castres), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana
(Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Maxime Medard
(Toulouse), Sofiane Guitoune (Perpignan), Brice Dulin (Castres), Yoann Huget
(Toulouse).
