The New Zealand-born centre missed their victorious 2004 RBS 6 Nations championship and World Cup 2003 campaigns through injury.

And he looked set to miss out again after picking up a calf strain during training, but made a quick recovery.

Four players are in line to make their international debuts.

Biarritz lock David Couzinet, Bezier flanker Yannick Nyanga, Agen's scrum-half Mathieu Barrau, and Bourgoin fly-half Alexandre Peclier are all eager to show their potential.

They will benefit from the experience of captain Fabien Pelous, prop Pieter De Villiers and hooker William Servat who are the only survivors from the RBS 6 Nations triumph over England at the end of March.

Nyanga admitted he was surprised to be called up to the national squad.

The 20-year-old Congolese-born forward, who has captained the Under-21 side, said: Everything went so fast that it is hard for me to realise what is happening. Just a week ago I was in Scotland for the Under-21 world championships.

I am aware that I am about to represent my country, which is enormous for me, but I did not think it would be possible to play in both the Under-21 team and the national team.

I know that I can take nothing for granted and I must do well in Hartford to hope for other caps with France.

(Coach) Bernard Laporte wants active and intelligent players, capable of being efficient in every area of the game.

France: Clement Poitrenaud, Aurelien Rougerie, Tony Marsh, Brian Liebenberg, Cedric Heymans, Alexandre Peclier, Patrick Tabacco, Thomas Lievremont, Yannick Nyanga, David Couzinet, Fabien Pelous, Pieter de Villers, William Servat, Olivier Milloud.

Replacements: Dimitri Swarzewski, David Attoub, Romain Froment, Pierre Rabadan, Ludovic Loustau, Julien Peyrelongue, Philippe Bibabe.