Lapandry replaces Lauret in French squad

Backrow forward Alexandre Lapandry was called up by France coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Tuesday for the first of the three autumn tests in place of the injured flanker Wenceslas Lauret. Lauret should be fit for the tests against Argentina, in Lille on November 17, and Samoa on November 24 but was ruled unfit for the opener against Australia on November 10 because of a blow he took in last Friday's Top 14 clash between Lapandry's side Clermont and his side Biarritz. Clermont won the match 19-12 to go second in the table while Biarritz are now seventh in the French top flight. Lauret, 23, is the third player to withdraw from the squad, following captain Thierry Dusautoir because of injury and hooker Christopher Tolofua, who is suspended. Lapandry, also 23 and capped eight times, took a knock to the ribs in the Biarritz match but has been passed fit to join up with the squad on Friday, although, national coach Philippe Saint-Andre will be hoping there are no more casualties from the latest round of Top 14 games scheduled for Thursday. The team to play Australia will be announced on November 8. Revised squad Forwards: (19): Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Metro), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Yannick Forestier (Castres), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Dimitri Szarzewski (Racing Metro), David Attoub (Stade Francais), Vincent Debaty (Clermont), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Pape (Stade Francais, capt), Jocelino Suta (Toulon), Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Pierrick Gunther (Toulon), Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Louis Picamoles (Toulouse) Backs (14): Maxime Machenaud (Racing-Metro), Morgan Parra (Clermont), Frederic Michalak (Toulon), Jules Plisson (Stade Francais), Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Brice Dulin (Castres), Benjamin Fall (Racing-Metro), Gael Fickou (Toulouse), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Vincent Martin (Toulon), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon)