France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has caused a major selection surprise by omitting experienced No.10 Francois Trinh-Duc from his squad for next month's Rugby World Cup in England.
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Trinh-Duc, 28, who was a standout for France in the 2011 World Cup final - which they lost narrowly to the All Blacks in Auckland - has been left out in favour of another veteran, Frederic Michalak.
Other players to be cut by Saint-Andre after Saturday's narrow warm-up win over England were prop Xavier Chiocci, lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, back-row forward Yoann Goujon and centre Remi Lamerat.
France are in a tough group at the World Cup which includes Six Nations champions and World No.2 side Ireland, as well as fellow European big guns Italy.
FRANCE SQUAD
Forwards (17): Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing Metro), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Rabah Slimani (Stade Francais), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Francais), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing Metro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse)
Backs (14): Rory Kockott (Castres), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Remi Tales (Racing Metro), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing Metro), Gal Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Brice Dulin (Racing Metro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Scott Spedding (Clermont)
