Two returning players and French teams' results in Europe put Les Bleus in good heart despite injuries.
The front rower, whose catalogue of previous non-sporting transgressions include domestic violence, was detained on Saturday night/Sunday morning and was released from police custody late on Monday morning.
Montpellier has confirmed contract extensions for two key members of its forward pack, Mohamed Haouas and Bastien Chalureau, both of whom have faced their fair share of controversy in recent years.
The former Scotland captain has been offered a chance of redemption in France like many 'bad boys' who have gone before him
Bernard Laporte's Montpellier are taking a growing trend in French rugby to the extreme by loaning out nearly one-fifth of their side to other clubs next season.
Georgian fly-half Luka Matkava is expected to pen a deal with Montpellier Hérault Rugby for the next two seasons and will be the 16th signing for the Top 14 side.
Montpellier have parted ways with former England tighthead Harry Williams after just one season, as reported by RugbyPass.
2022 Top 14 champions Montpellier came within a whisker of shock loss in their Top 14 relegation playoff, where defeat would have meant demotion to the ProD2.
Mohed Altrad's reign has seen a slew of coaches hired and fired, and club culture eroded.
It was last year when the 30-year-old had an impending three-year contract with Clermont ripped up following a court conviction for hitting his wife in public, a judicial decision that also resulted in his omission by France from their Rugby World Cup training squad.