Guy Noves Names French Six Nations Squad And There’s A Huge Notable Absentee

French players form a huddle after the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between France and Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015. Ireland won the match 24-9. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of the France squad for the Six Nations as Guy Noves names 31 players and promises a new era of attacking rugby.

Bastareaud had been omitted from two previous informal gatherings with former Toulouse boss Noves looking to rejuvenate a squad which exited last year’s World Cup following a record defeat by New Zealand.

“We want to build a team who will be able to improve a lot, and not taking players who would not be with us in two or three years,” Noves told a news conference.

“We want to make the French people who will support us happy.”

France start their Six Nations campaign at the Stade de France against Italy on the 6th of February and host defending champions Ireland seven days later.

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Andoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Damien Chouly, Alessandre Flanquart, Kevin Gourdon, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina.

Backs: Sebastien Bezy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Jean-Marc Doussain, Alexandre Dumoulin, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa.

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