France call in reinforcements

France coach Marc Lievremont has drafted Francois Trinh-Duc and Mathieu Bastareaud into his squad to face RBS 6 Nations champions Wales on Friday night after Lionel Beauxis and Maxime Mermoz pulled out with injuries.

Stade Francais fly-half Beauxis was forced off after 51 minutes of last Friday’s Top 14 home win over Toulon with a pelvic problem while Perpignan centre Mermoz suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday’s defeat at Bayonne.

Montpellier fly-half Trinh-Duc, 22, has not played for Les Bleus since last summer against Australia, while 20-year-old Stade Francais centre Bastareaud is untested at senior international level.