But with veteran Julien Bonnaire announcing his international retirement at the end of the Six Nations, Ouedraogo insists he will be fighting hard to break into Philippe Saint-André’s squad for the summer tour to Argentina.

He said: “I knew I was heading to Paris because several players were injury doubts so I was prepared not to play. I’m obviously disappointed not to have played in the Six Nations but I’ll get a chance. I’m working hard for it in any case.

“I didn’t play in 2011, so it’s not new for me. It’s difficult to be a spectator but you just have to get on with it and play as well as you can to get back into the French team.

“After the initial training camp the coaches said they were happy with how I had been playing but there were other very good players. Thierry [Dusautoir] is the captain and the best player in the world while Julien had been playing very well. It’s was an understandable decision. It wasn’t a big disappointment, rather it just increases the motivation.

“I saw the game against Wales, it wasn’t a bad match. It’s a shame for the guys, they couldn’t finish off their chances to get back in the game. It wasn’t bad in defence with just one big error which cost the Welsh try.”