Thomas Castaignede is set to make his international return for France against Australia on November 5th over two years after winning the last of his 43 caps.
The 30-year-old Saracens fullback was named yesterday in a 22-man squad for the first match of France's November series.
"Thomas is in the squad as a replacement covering the centre and fullback positions," coach Bernard Laporte told journalists at the team training centre in Marcoussis, south of Paris.
"For the time being, Frederic Michalak and Yann Delaigue are ahead of him at flyhalf, Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz are without doubt our two best centres and Julien Laharrague is our number one fullback."
Faced by a wave of injuries, Laporte also recalled lock Lionel Nallet and number eight Thomas Lievremont, who played their last international in June 2003 and July 2004 respectively.
Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili was dropped as Laporte decided to have five forwards and only two backs on the bench.
"We know we are going to face a strong physical challenge because the Australians have a powerful pack," Laporte said.
"Dimitri paid the price of our tactical decision but we are going to play three other Tests in November against Canada, Tonga and South Africa and he will have his chance."
France will face Australia at Marseille's Stade Velodrome with a team short of seven experienced players.
Backrow forwards Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy, lock Pascal Pape, hooker William Servat, centre Damien Traille and wing Christophe Dominici are all injured. Number eight Julien Bonnaire is suspended.
"I'm sorry for the injured players. Maybe, we wouldn't have picked Castaignede, Nallet or Lievremont but here they are and they will have an opportunity to stake their claim and I'm happy for them," Laporte said.
"I'm particularly happy for Thomas who is back in top form. He has been working hard in training and had the best overall results for a back-line player when he had our physical tests.
"We would like to test him at flyhalf but he would have to wear the number 10 with Saracens first," he said.
"Number 10, 13 or 15, I don't care. To be in the squad would be enough," Castaignede was quoted as saying when Laporte first said two weeks ago he was considering a recall.
"When I was younger, I used to make demands like a spoilt brat. As time goes by, I have learnt to obey like a private."
Castaignede made his international debut in 1995 against Romania, scoring 22 points, and hit the headlines with a last-minute drop-goal to beat England in the 1996 Five Nations.
France squad
Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Frederic Michalak, Yann Delaigue, Thomas Castaignede, Yannick Jauzion, Florian Fritz Cedric Heymans, Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Laharrague
Forwards: Pieter de Villiers, Sylvain Marconnet, Olivier Milloud, Sebastien Bruno, Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Pelous (captain), Jerome Thion, Lionel Nallet, Yannick Nyanga, Gregory Lamboley, Olivier Magne, Thomas Lievremont, Remy Martin.
