France recalled Toulouse flyhalf Yann Delaigue to the squad today for their upcoming tour to Argentina and New Zealand later this month.
The 30-year-old Delaigue, who masterminded Toulouse's European Cup victory over Perpignan at Lansdowne Road last month, won the last of his 10 caps in 1997.
"Yann is the in-form flyhalf at the end of the season. He will have three matches to prove that he is the best French flyhalf," confirmed coach Bernard Laporte.
Delaigue kicked five penalties and set up and converted centre Yannick Jauzion's try in the final at Lansdowne Road.
His recall comes at the expense of Gerald Merceron and Francois Gelez who were dropped from the squad for the tour that includes two tests against Argentina on June 14th and 20th and a one-off match against the All Blacks on June 28th.
Laporte had problems throughout the Six Nations choosing a goal-kicking flyhalf. Merceron, who assumed the goal-kicking duties during the 2002 Six Nations, went through a slump in form this year and was replaced by Gelez.
Gelez played against Ireland, but also had a shocking performance and Laporte dropped him for the last two games against Italy and Wales, bringing in Frederic Michalak.
Captain and scrumhalf Fabien Galthie, who missed most of the Six Nations because of an injury, and prop Pieter De Villiers, suspended after testing positive for cocaine and ecstasy, were also recalled to the team.
Several key players, including locks Fabien Pelous and Olivier Brouzet, prop Jean-Jacque Crenca, hooker Raphael Ibanez, flankers Olivier Magne and Serge Betsen and centre Xavier Garbajosa were rested.
Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, who replaced Galthie during the Six Nations, withdrew because of an ankle injury.
Squad:
Forwards:Jean-Baptiste Rue (Agen), Sylvain Marconnet (StadeFrancais), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Olivier Milloud(Bourgoin), Yannick Bru (Toulouse), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan),David Auradou (Stade Francais), Pascal Pape (Bourgoin), JeromeThion (Perpignan), Imanol Harinordoquy (Pau), Sebastien Chabal(Bourgoin), Patrick Tabacco (Stade Francais), Christian Labit(Toulouse), Jean Bouilhou (Toulouse), Elvis Vermeulen(Montferrand).
Backs:Fabien Galthie (Stade Francais, captain), YannDelaigue (Toulouse), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), DamienTraille (Pau), Thomas Castaignede (Saracens), Yannick Jauzion(Toulouse), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Aurelien Rougerie(Montferrand), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais), PepitoElhorga (Agen), Clement Poitrenaud (Toulouse).