Michalak promoted to France A squad

Last weekend Frédéric Michalak was playing for France Under-21. This week he has been included in the France A team to play Ireland A.

Michalak, who is still only 20 years of age, has had six caps for the French senior side.

Slight of build he has played both scrumhalf and flyhalf at the top level and is a good goal kicker.

In general the French side has considerable experience.

Apart from the Grenoble flank/lock Julien Frier all of the squad have international experience at some level.

Twelve have played for the French senior team - Michalak, Nicolas Brusque, Frédéric Cermeno, Christophe Dominici, Pépito Elhorga, Cédric Heymans, Olivier Milloud, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Yannick Bru, Lionel Nallet, Thibault Privat (Béziers), Jean Bouilhou and Patrick Tabacco.

So far this season France have lost to England (30-13) and beaten Scotland (30-15). Ireland drew with Scotland (25-25) and beat Italy (28-11)

The French squad is:

Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Stade Toulousain), Frédéric Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Ludovic Mercier (Gloucester/Eng), Guillaume Boussès (Biarritz), Nicolas Brusque (Biarritz), Frédéric Cermeno (Perpignan), Christophe Dominici (Stade Français), Pépito Elhorga (Agen), Cédric Heymans (Stade Toulousain), Geoffroy Messina (Montferrand)

Forwards: Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Stade Toulousain), Yannick Bru (Stade Toulousain), Benoît August (Stade Français), David Couzinet (Biarritz), Lionel Nallet (Bourgoin), Thibault Privat (Béziers), Jean Bouilhou (Stade Toulousain), Julien Frier (Grenoble), Mathieu Lièvremont (Agen), Patrick Tabacco (Stade Français).