France call in 15 players for Springboks as giant lock ruled out

France have called up 15 extra players ahead of their rugby Test against South Africa, including a replacement for injured lock Killian Geraci.

Geraci was a late withdrawal from France’s 30-29 win over Australia in their Autumn Nations Series Test on Saturday and the French rugby federation on Monday confirmed his removal from the squad due to a knee injury.

Eight of the 15 new players called up to prepare for the match against the world champion Springboks have never played for France.

Toulouse lock Thibaud Flament linked up with Cameron Woki in the second row against Australia after Paul Willemse was also ruled out, because of a thigh injury.

FRANCE SQUAD FOR SOUTH AFRICA TEST

Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille, Alexandre Becognee, Pierre Bourgarit, Bastien Chalureau, Dylan Cretin, Sipili Falatea, Thibaud Flament, Mohamed Haouas, Anthony Jelonch, Jordan Joseph, Thomas Lavault, Sekou Macalou, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Charles Ollivon, Remi Picquette, Dany Priso, Yoan Tanga, Romain Taofifenua, Reda Wardi, Cameron Woki, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Leo Berdeu, Pierre Boudehent, Anthony Bouthier, Baptiste Couilloud, Jonathan Danty, Ethan Dumortier, Antoine Dupont, Samuel Ezeala, Gael Fickou, Emilien Gailleton, Matthieu Jalibert, Matthis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Alivereti Raka, Thomas Ramos.

The daring but dejected Wallabies offered no regrets after almost pulling off the upset of the year in an epic loss to the French.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup hosts and favourites had to pull out all stops to deny the Wallabies a famous victory, snatching a record 11th straight Test win with a try to winger Damien Penaud five minutes from full-time.

The Wallabies produced a 95-metre contender for try of the year but ultimately paid the price once more for their ill-discipline and lack of attention to detail at Stade de France.

Sharp-shooting fullback Thomas Ramos punished the Wallabies for their every infringement, nailing six penalty goals and a conversion for a telling 20-point haul.

“It’s a game of inches, isn’t it,” rued Wallabies coach Dave Rennie. “We got away with a tight one last week and we finished second tonight. It is what it is.”