France's fly-half Romain Ntamack leaves the pitch injured against Fiji

Lyon (AFP) - France coach Fabien Galthie on Sunday recalled a clutch of experienced internationals for country’s big challenge of their autumn Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa.

Les Bleus thumped Fiji 54-17 on Saturday in Lyon, but have only won once in the last 10 meetings with the Springboks going back to 2009. South Africa have beaten France five straight times at the Stade de France, including a one-point quarter-final victory in 2023 on their way to retaining the World Cup.

Galthie recalled 31-year-old hooker Julien Marchand, who had been sidelined since injuring a thigh in early October. He made his return for his club Toulouse on Saturday and could go straight into the starting line-up to face South Africa’s destructive front row.

France continue to face injury problems in the backs. Fly-half Romain Ntamack was forced off with a shoulder injury on his international return on Saturday. France were already without fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and full-back and goal kicker Thomas Ramos.

Galthie also recalled 32-year-old centre Gael Fickou and 33-year-old winger Teddy Thomas as well as fly-half Louis Carbonel and winger Gael Drean.

Carbonel has not featured in a France match-day squad since 2022. Drean, 26, returned to action for his club, Toulon, and scored a try on Saturday, after a six-month lay-off following heart surgery.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus called up experienced lock Eben Etzebeth later Sunday, while uncapped fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed will return to South Africa due to a shoulder niggle.

Etzebeth, the most capped Bok with 147 Test appearances, was ruled out of the initial touring squad for the second phase of the Nations Championship due to injury, but is now fit and takes Ahmed’s place in the squad.

“With enough backline cover in the squad and a number of versatile players among them, we opted to call up Eben,” Erasmus said.

The lock, he added, would “not only bring vast experience to the group at this vital stage of the Nations Championship, but also valuable leadership skills, especially with two important matches against France and Ireland in the next two weeks before the Finals Weekend of the tournament”.