Merceron answers the call

RYGBY: France coach Bernard Laporte has turned to Gerald Merceron to solve his outhalf problem by calling him up for their clash against New Zealand on Saturday after a last-minute flight across the world.

Merceron had barely left Paris when Laporte announced his team for Saturday's one-off Test in Christchurch with Merceron among the replacements.

He will join the team after a 24-hour journey and will only have 48 hours to recover from jet lag.

The 23-cap outhalf comes in after the withdrawal of Yann Delaigue, who left the team with a damaged tendon in his left upper arm.

Utility back Thomas Castaignede also returned to France with a thigh muscle injury.

Laporte named 20-year-old Frederic Michalak as first-choice outhalf but said Merceron would come in during the game as he is the only other back on the bench with full back Pepito Elhorga.

The 30-year-old Merceron was France playmaker and goalkicker when they won a Six Nations Grand Slam last season but he has had a slump in form this season.

He was left out of the European season and seemed to have reached the end of his international career when Laporte gave the nod to Delaigue and Michalak before the tour to Argentina and New Zealand.

But Toulouse club manager Guy Noves said earlier this week that Delaigue is out of contention for a place because he will have to undergo surgery and rest for at least four months.

Merceron's number has therefore come up again.

At the end of a gruelling and disappointing tour already spoilt by two defeats in Argentina, Laporte has handed a first start to uncapped 23-year-old prop Nicolas Mas.

He has also recalled lock Lionel Nallet, who won the last of his eight caps in November 2001 against Fiji, and number eight Elvis Vermeulen, who only played twice for France during a tour to South Africa two years ago.

Vermeulen will be flanked by Patrick Tabacco and Imanol Harinordoquy, who both usually play in the number eight position.

Among the backs, centre Yannick Jauzion and wing Christophe Dominici will have a last opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the World Cup squad due to be announced on July 2nd.

FRANCE: 15-Clement Poitrenaud; 14-Aurelien Rougerie, 13-Yannick Jauzion, 12-Damien Traille, 11-Christophe Dominici; 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Fabien Galthie (captain); 1-Sylvain Marconnet, 2-Yannick Bru, 3-Nicolas Mas, 4-Lionel Nallet, 5-Jerome Thion, 6-Imanol Harinorodoquy, 7-Patrick Tabacco, 8-Elvis Vermeulen. Replacements: 16-Jean-Baptiste Rue, 17-Pieter de Villiers, 18-David Auradou, 19-Sibastien Chabal, 20-Christian Labit, 21-Gerald Merceron, 22-Pepito Elhorga.