Damien Traille and Julien Bonnaire believe their improved form at club level, rather than their experience on the international stage, is the chief reason behind their recalls to the France squad for the RBS 6 Nations match against England.
The pair, who have more than 100 caps between them, will not only add some welcome nous to Marc Lievremont's youthful squad on Sunday week; they will also bring with them a bundle of renewed confidence, having overcome stuttering starts to the season with their clubs.
Centre Traille has been one of the architects behind the renaissance of fallen Top 14 giants Biarritz in recent weeks, while Bonnaire - one of Les Bleus' best players in the 2007 World Cup - is back to his best in resurgent Clermont-Auvergne's back row.
'It is an enormous satisfaction to be called up,' said Traille, who won the last of his 66 caps for France in the defeat to Australia in November.
'When you're a competitor, you always have a desire to play for France. That is still the case even if in recent months, taking into account the bad spell Biarritz have gone through, my club has been my priority.
'Now we are going upwards, and I think the fact that there are four Biarrots selected for the England match [forwards Fabien Barcella, Jerome Thion and Imanol Harinordoquy are also in the squad] isn't by chance.'
Thion - a lock with 45 caps to his name - has also been recalled by Lievremont after a year in the international wilderness. Toulouse centre Florian Fritz, having served a three-week suspension, is the fourth player to be restored to the group.
Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, Clement Poitrenaud and the injured Benoit Baby have been left out.
Bonnaire, a mainstay of the France team towards the back-end of the Bernard Laporte era, will add some class and beef to a back row that has impressed already this Six Nations. He admits his form for Clermont at the start of the season did not warrant selection for Les Bleus, but feels he has turned things around.
'The club was in difficulty at the beginning of the campaign, but we have been able to redress the balance,' said the 31-year-old, who last played for France in the final match of the 2008 Six Nations, away against Wales.
'Personally, the winter break did me an enormous amount of good. They allowed me to take a step back and recharge my batteries. I set off again on a good footing. My club and I are on a crescendo, and finding the level of last season.'
Ouedraogo, a lightweight compared to Bonnaire, is a favourite of Lievremont - having figured in all 14 matches of the head coach's 16-month reign. It is the first time the young Montpellier flanker has been dropped, and he revealed it is form rather than experience that has seen Bonnaire recalled.
'I understood Marc's message that he has picked Julien Bonnaire instead because he is in form at the moment,' Ouedraogo told L'Equipe.
'I am, of course, disappointed not to be playing in this big match. It isn't good news for me. But I am going to continue to work hard, try to put in good performances for my club and get back my place in the squad.'
