The son of a legend and a giant lock among those named in France's 31-man Six Nations squad
Romain Ntamack is one of five new faces in France's 31-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations.
The 19-year-old, who can play fly-half or centre, was a member of the Les Bleus squad that won the World Rugby Under-20 Championship last year.
Ntamack is joined by Toulouse team-mates Thomas Ramos and Dorian Aldegheri, while La Rochelle number eight Gregory Alldritt and the South-Africa born lock Paul Willemse are also included.
Montpellier powerhouse Willemse (6'7, 136kg) was tipped to have played in the November internationals, but was told he had to wait until he received a French passport.
Ntamack has emerged as a key centrepiece in Toulouse's plans this season, while full-back Ramos beat the likes of Benjamin Fall and Brice Dulin to selection.
Jacques Brunel will hope the injection of fresh blood can rejuvenate a France squad that suffered a historic first defeat to Fiji last November.
Clermont duo Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana return having missed the November matches due to injury.
The likes of Teddy Thomas, Yoann Maestri and Mathieu Babillot miss out on selection due to injury.
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri, Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bourgarit, Yacouba Camara, Guilhem Guirado, Arthur Iturria, Felix Lambey, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Julien Marchand, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Dany Priso, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Willemse
Backs: Mathieu Bastareaud, Anthony Belleau, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Yoann Huget, Camille Lopez, Maxime Medard, Romain Ntamack, Morgan Parra, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin
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I've read lots of discussions about it here and on other site and the context I understood was he only just missed the cut (like lots of good players did).
It is easy to construe that he was told he wasn't going to be chosen at his current weight, but I'd say that his weight was just the reason he was given why he wasn't chosen over other players (who went on to be very good themselves).
Go to commentsThe cupboard may be a bit stretched in the elite coaching dept...not to mention trophies.
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