France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Thursday called up prop Nicolas Mas, scrum-half Rory Kockott and centre Maxime Mermoz for his 30-strong squad to prepare for the Six Nations match against Italy.
The French were left reeling last weekend when they lost 20-13 to Wales at the Stade de France ending any hopes they had of winning this year's tournament.
Saint-Andre subsequently launched a bitter attack on his players saying that some of them were "prima-donnas" who failed to live up to their responsibilities on the field.
Mas is brought back in at 34-years-old having won 76 caps, with forwards coach Yannick Bru saying that his experience would be key in preparing the pack for the challenge of taking on the powerful Italians.
South African born Kockott missed the game against Wales after sustaining a thigh injury in the loss to Ireland and he is a logical choice to replace Morgan Parra, who will miss the rest of the Six Nations due to a knee injury.
Mermoz joins the squad for the first time this year having been in the starting lineup for the last of the November Test matches against Argentina.
"He knows our patterns and can integrate the group quickly," said backs coach Patrice Lagisquet of the Toulon player.
France training squad for Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on March 15:
Forwards (17): Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing-Metro), Loann Goujon (La Rochelle)
Backs (13): Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Rory Kockott (Castres), Remi Tales (Castres), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Jules Plisson (Stade Francais), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Bègles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Scott Spedding (Bayonne), Brice Dulin (Racing-Métro)
Source: AFP
