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Bamba back as France bring in three for Scotland

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Demba Bamba has been recalled by France after recovering from a hamstring injury and could make his Guinness Six Nations bow against Scotland in Round 3.

Demba Bamba has been recalled by France after recovering from a hamstring injury and could make his Guinness Six Nations bow against Scotland in Round 3.

The tighthead prop featured in every game of last year’s campaign but missed the wins over Italy and Ireland.

However he has now returned to fitness and comes into the squad alongside Toulon pair Jean-Baptiste Gros and Swan Rebbadj.

Gros came off the bench in France’s Championship opener away in Italy but was then ruled out of the clash with Ireland.

Rebbadj, meanwhile, was named in the initial squad before pulling out of the training camp.

Bamba’s return sees Dorian Aldegheri drop out of the squad, while Rebbadj replaces Baptiste Pesenti and Gros comes in for Hassane Kolingar.

Racing 92 loosehead Kolingar came on for the final five minutes of the narrow win in Ireland, including one crucial scrum late on that allowed France to emerge 15-13 victors.

Meanwhile Romain Ntamack and Virimi Vakatawa could both return before the end of the Championship with the pair now back in training at Toulouse and Racing 92 respectively.

Les Bleus take on Scotland in Round 3 in Paris having won one and lost one against the Scots in 2020, both games taking place at BT Murrayfield.

France squad to take on Scotland:

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bourgarit, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mohamed Haouas, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Killian Geraci, Bernard Le Roux, Swan Rebbadj, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Willemse, Grégory Alldritt, Dylan Cretin, Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon (c), Cameron Woki

Backs: Sébastien Bézy, Antoine Dupont, Baptiste Serin, Louis Carbonel, Matthieu Jalibert, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Gaël Fickou, Arthur Vincent, Damian Penaud, Teddy Thomas, Gabin Villière, Anthony Bouthier, Brice Dulin