Frederic Michalak has been recalled to the France squad for the first time since the 2007 World Cup after Sebastien Tillous-Borde withdrew from Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy in Rome through injury.
Hooker Benjamin Kayzer has also been ruled out because of a cervical trauma and will be replaced by William Servat, team press officer Lionel Rossigneux told Reuters on Monday. Both players were injured in Sunday’s 34-10 defeat to England.
“Tillous-Borde and Kayzer had medical tests as soon as we arrived in Paris and have been ruled out. Michalak and Servat will join the team tomorrow (Tuesday)”, he said.
The 26-year-old Michalak, renowned for his brilliant but sometimes erratic performances, returns at scrumhalf, the position of his debut at club and international level.
He switched to flyhalf for the 2003 World Cup and has won most of his 50 caps and the Currie Cup with the Natal Sharks wearing the number 10 jersey .
Servat, his team mate at Toulouse, won the last of his 20 caps against Wales in the 2008 Six Nations.
Reuters
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‘Baffled’ Michalak very happy
Paris – Frederic Michalak is delighted to rejoin France’s squad after winning the last of his 50 caps in the 2007 World Cup.
“Nearly a year and a half, it has been a long time and to be omitted for such a long time leads to a lot of doubt,” he told reporters as he prepared for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy in Rome.
“I was really baffled yesterday evening when (team manager) Jo Maso rang to tell me (scrumhalf) Sebastien Tillous-Borde had been ruled out through injury and I was to replace him. I’m happy to be back but also sorry for Sebastien.
“The proverb ‘one man’s joy is another man’s sorrow’ is particulaly true in our sport. I have learnt it to my cost,” added Michalak.
The 26-year-old Toulouse player made his club and international debut at number nine before switching to flyhalf for the 2003 World Cup.
“Recently I have played more often at scrumhalf than at flyhalf with my club because Byron Kelleher and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde were injured,” he said.
“It helped me to come back to the France squad because the coaches said they were regarding me as a number nine.”
Asked if he would be happy to take over goalkicking duties when the team is named on Wednesday, Michalak replied: “Yes, of course.
“I’m getting more and more confident and I converted six kicks out of seven attempts in Saturday’s French championship match against Castres.”
Brilliant but sometimes erratic, Michalak was the darling of French rugby from his debut in November 2001 until the 2003 World Cup semi-final defeat by England in Sydney.
The next four years were difficult, with former France coach Bernard Laporte preferring Lionel Beauxis during the 2007 World Cup.
“It’s one of the reasons I went off in search of adventure in South Africa (where he won the Currie Cup with Natal) after the World Cup,” said Michalak.
“The return was a bit difficult. I played some good games but also some very bad games.
“I was however very disappointed when the coaches omitted me from the 30-man squad before the Six Nations. Now I’m back I’m happy and we’ll see what happens.”
I can’t believe he is still only 26.
Very happy for Freddy, well done.
Very, very worried about this one though…”Benjamin Kayzer has also been ruled out because of a cervical trauma”
Cool for “Paddaboutjies”, but not @ 9 please, he’s a genius @ 10