Uncapped scrum-half Sébastien Bézy admits it was a surprise to be called up by France after being named in an initial 30-man squad.
Guy Novès has put together a first squad for a training camp to prepare for the RBS 6 Nations, with a second 30-man squad to be named in the New Year.
There are five uncapped players in the squad, with Bézy joined by centre Jonathan Danty, as well as forwards Jefferson Poirot, Paul Jedrasiak and Yacouba Camara.
And despite having been tipped by many to be included by Novès, his former coach at Toulouse, Bézy still wasn’t expecting to be included.
“My name had been mentioned regularly but I still didn’t expect to be on this list, especially when you see all the French scrum-halves in Top 14 clubs,” he said.
“I would have found it normal not to be picked because there are some very good other scrum-halves. It feels strange really.
“I found out when I checked my phone this afternoon. It was a bit by chance actually, I thought the squad was coming out this morning. I’m obviously very happy but I know it’s only a squad of 30, I haven’t played a match yet.
“This call-up is not an end in itself. At Toulouse I feel better and better as the games go on.
“The fact that I’m playing a number of games helps me get my bearings and has given me confidence. I’m also taking advantage of being a goal-kicker, for a scrum-half it’s important but I’m not the only kicker on the list.”
France’s 30-man squad: Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92), Sébastien Bézy (Toulouse), Hugo Bonneval (Stade Français), Yacouba Camara (Toulouse), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Jonathan Danty (Stade Français), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing 92), Benjamin Fall (Montpellier), Gaël Fickou (Toulouse), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Loann Goujon (Bordeaux-Bègles), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Paul Jedrasiak (Clermont), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Rémy Lamerat (Castres), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Bernard le Roux (Racing 92), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Maxime Médard (Toulouse), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), Jules Plisson (Stade Français), Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Scott Spedding (Clermont), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont).
