Huget gets France call

Recalled wing Yoann Huget will play his first Test for France in 2018 after being named as one of two backline changes by coach Jacques Brunel for Saturday’s clash against Argentina in Lille as the side seek to end a five-match losing run.

Huget was not in the original squad but replaces Damian Penaud, who was injured in last weekend’s dramatic 29-26 defeat to SA in Paris.

The winger is a 51-cap veteran but was not considered for selection by Brunel for the November internationals until an injury to Wesley Fofana saw him called into the squad.

His last Test was a home defeat to the Springboks a year ago. The other change sees Gael Fickou replace Geoffrey Doumayrou at inside centre, in what is the 10th different starting XV for Brunel in his 10 Tests in charge of the side.

Fickou was on the wing for the June series in New Zealand, but came off the bench to play at centre in last weekend’s loss to the Boks.

The pack remains the same for the visit of Argentina, with hooker Guilhem Guirado leading the side again.

France lost their last five Tests and won only two of the previous nine under Brunel. The side have not lost six Tests in a row since 1968. Team: 15-Maxime Medard, 14-Teddy Thomas, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Gael Fickou, 11-Yoann Huget, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Baptiste Serin, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Artur Iturria, 6-Wenceslas Lauret, 5-Yoan Maestri, 4-Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3-Cedate Gomes Sa, 2Guilhem Guirado (capt), 1-Jefferson Poirot. Replacements: 16-Camille Chat, 17Dany Priso, 18-Rabah Slimani, 19-Paul Gabrillagues, 20-Mathieu Babillot, 21Antoine Dupont, 22-Anthony Belleau, 23-Benjamin Fall. –