Mauvaka, Lucu return to France squad for England clash

Hooker Peato Mauvaka and scrum-half Maxime Lucu, who have both missed the first three rounds of the Six Nations through injury, were recalled to the France squad on Friday as it prepares for a Twickenham showdown with England.

Mauvaka, usually the backup to Toulouse teammate Julien Marchand, broke a finger in January but made his return last weekend, in the unfamiliar position of back row, in the Top 14 win over Pau.

Lucu, the regular deputy for Antoine Dupont, also made his return from an ankle injury last weekend in Bordeaux-Begles's win over Perpignan.

The absence through suspension of frontline tighthead props Uini Atonio and Mohamed Haouas for the England match means a recall to the squad for Toulouse's Dorian Aldeghiri, who won the last of his eight caps in the Autumn Nations Cup in 2020.

He will compete for a place on the team sheet with Bordeaux's Sipili Falatea, who came on for Haouas after he was sent off against Scotland, and uncapped Thomas Laclayat who plays for second-division Oyonnax.

Atonio is in Fabien Galthie's 42-man squad but will only be eligible to play again in the defending champions Six Nations finale against Wales in Paris.

Pau's uncapped back rower Sacha Zegueur joins the squad as a replacement for Anthony Jelonch, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.

Another Oyonnax player, 20-year-old wing Enzo Reybier, who went on last summer's tour to Japan, is also included.

France and England, as well as Scotland, have won two of their three games thus far and remain in with the chance of winning the championship should Ireland, who are on course for the Grand Slam, slip up.