France call on Messina

Geoffrey Messina has been drafted into France’s truncated RBS 6 Nations championship squad as coach Bernard Laporte tries to come to terms with an injury list that is seriously hampering his preparations for the competition.

Messina, the uncapped Stade Francais centre who many felt was unlucky not to be named in the original party of 40, was called up on Thursday as a replacement for the injured Romain Cabannes.