Bruiser Bastareaud recalled to French Six Nations squad

Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud is back in the French squad after more than a year's absence for their Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham on February 4.

The out of favour 28-year-old was omitted from the original squad but is included by coach Guy Noves after Racing 92 captain Henry Chavancy was forced to pull out.

Uncapped Chavancy, also 28, was himself a late replacement, named in the squad to cover for Clermont's Wesley Fofana, who was ruled out with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

It is Bastareaud's first call-up since he won his 39th cap in France's World Cup quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks 62-13 in October 2015 in Cardiff.

And it was his first under Noves who took over the coaching role from Philippe Saint-Andre after France's humiliating exit from the World Cup.

The towering 120kg (265lb) Bastareaud, whose sparkling recent form at Toulon has drawn praise, was used as a battering ram by Saint-Andre but Noves favours a more creative midfield epitomised by his first-choice pairing Fofana and Toulouse centre Gael Fickou.

"I've always been clear about my attitude to Mathieu. We have a team plan built on dynamism and mobility. So we go for players with that kind of profile," Noves told AFP.

"But with injuries to several players and given the current form of Mathieu, it is logical to recall him.

"I want to see if he is motivated, if he wants to become part of that team plan and what progress he will make."

"There is a game plan to which he must adapt and we hope he has it in him to do that."

Toulon prop Xavier Chiocci has also been recalled to the squad to replace injured Eddy Ben Arous.