Fritz back for France

France coach Marc Lievremont has recalled Florian Fritz to his 23-man squad to face England at Twickenham.

Toulouse centre recalled after suspension

France coach Marc Lievremont has recalled Florian Fritz to his 23-man squad to face England at Twickenham. The Toulouse centre will be free to play on March 14 after the end of his three-week ban for striking an opponent in the defeat to Ireland. Damien Traille is also back for the match, however Clement Poitrenaud and Benoit Baby - who failed to make an impact at fly-half against Wales before limping off - are both omitted. That means Francois Trinh-Duc is likely to start at No.10 against England - with Lionel Beauxis still out injured. "It is an enormous satisfaction to be called up," said Traille, who last played against Australia in November. "When you're a competitor, you always have a desire to play for France. "That is still the case even if in recent months, taking into account the bad spell Biarritz have gone through, my club has been my priority. "Now we are going upwards, and I think the fact that there are four Biarrots selected for the England match [forwards Fabien Barcella, Jerome Thion and Imanol Harinordoquy are also in the squad] isn't by chance." In the forwards Julien Bonnaire and Thion are given another chance to impress, with Montpellier duo Fulgence Ouedraogo and Louis Picamoles making way. The omission of Ouedraogo, though, comes as a surprise as the flanker had been one of the stars of the 21-16 win over Wales. However Lievremont is now set to revert Sale star Sebastien Chabal to the back-row for the clash. Bonnaire admits his early season form did not warrant a place in the side, but feels he has turned things around for Clermont. "Personally, the winter break did me an enormous amount of good," he said. "They allowed me to take a step back and recharge my batteries. I set off again on a good footing. "My club and I are on a crescendo, and finding the level of last season." France - backs: Julien Malzieu (Clermont-Auvergne), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Maxime Medard, Cedric Heymans (both Toulouse), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion (both Toulouse), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Morgan Parra (Bourgoin), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres).
Forwards: Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Lionel Nallet (Castres, capt), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Benjamin Kayser (Leicester), Dimitri Szarzewski, Sylvain Marconnet (both Stade Francais), Thomas Domingo (Clermont-Auvergne), Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Lionel Faure (Sale).