With Simon Easterby's Guinness Six Nations squad yesterday falling along expected lines, the most eye-catching selection of the day came from the French camp.
Nearly five and a half years on from winning the last of his 57 caps for Les Bleus, Leinster tighthead Rabah Slimani has been recalled to the France squad at the ripe old age of 35.
The prop was one of many players whose Test careers were abruptly ended when Fabien Galthie took over from Jacques Brunel after the 2019 World Cup, and any hopes he had of a recall appeared long gone by the time he joined Leinster from Clermont Auvergne last summer.
For the most part, Slimani is the same player he was last season, and for the previous four years when he was surplus to requirements for the France coach.
However, with half a season working day-in and day out with the likes of Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson and Jack Boyle, Slimani’s value to Galthie has increased dramatically, as he returns to Marcoussis armed with plenty of intel on the bulk of Easterby’s front row club.
"Slimani being picked for France, Leo [Leinster head coach Leo Cullen] will be delighted with that one," Bernard Jackman said on the RTÉ Rugby podcast this week.
"It will also be interesting what Slimani’s role is the week of the Ireland game. Is he in the 23 or is he giving them really good information around the Irish game and the Irish players.
"I think it’s quite creative by Galthie, and fair play to him."
The theory that Slimani’s knowledge on the Leinster – and by proxy Ireland – pack is only strengthened when you consider how rare it is to see France selecting players based outside of their own league.
While Antoine Frisch was drafted into their squad mid-Six Nations last season, the plans were already in the works to bring him back to the Top14 with Toulon, and he had his completed his move away from Munster by the time he was eventually capped in the summer.
Louis Picamoles, then of Northampton Saints was the last non-French based player to feature for Les Bleus way back in 2017.
"It’s left field but great for him. It’s also interesting, France never had to make a rule about players leaving the Top14 to be eligible because it hasn't happened.
"Back in the day there was a little bit of a relationship between the Sharks and French players, but by and large...Frisch came to Ireland but via Bristol, and he wasn’t in the reckoning then.
"It’s a really interesting move by Galthie. I’d say the LNR [Ligue nationale de rugby], the French clubs, wouldn't be overly keen on it because potentially it makes it harder for them to retain players.
"I know it’s only one player, but you can imagine players and agents won't be afraid to say we can go to the Premiership, be a marquee player in the Premiership and still play for France," Jackman added.
The veteran is one of four tightheads in the French squad, with Galthie picking a bloated panel of 42 players, in comparison to the 36 for Ireland and England, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend picking a group of 37.
Injuries to Sipili Falatea and Demba Bamba have helped Slimani's cause, while Uini Atonio is included in the squad despite picking up a knock in La Rochelle’s defeat to Leinster last weekend.
"I think Rabah’s been great, player of the month for Leinster for December. He started and has come off the bench, both roles equally well. A lot of the value he has brought has been his ability to bring through some of the young props
"He’ll be shocked by it, but it’s absolutely great for him if he can add to his caps, because he’s really bought into the whole experience over here.
"He’s playing well, you wouldn't have thought France would need to bring him back but they have some injuries there." Jackman said.
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