Five players with nine caps between them have been added to France\u2019s squad for the upcoming Test series with New Zealand, the French Rugby Federation has announced.<\/p>\n
Toulouse centre Pierre-Louis Barassi<\/a> and Bordeaux-Begles midfielder Nicolas Depoortere<\/a>, who have won seven and two caps respectively, are expected to join the set-up on Wednesday, having featured in Saturday\u2019s French Top 14<\/a> Final, which Toulouse<\/a> won in extra-time 39-33.<\/p>\n Both centres, Barassi started every game in this year\u2019s Six Nations<\/a> except the Scotland<\/a> match, which he missed, while Depoortere last appeared for Les Bleus in the 2024 Championship.<\/p>\n The pair will be joined by an uncapped trio comprising Barassi\u2019s club teammate Josh Brennan, as well as Depoortere\u2019s fellow Bordeaux-Begles squad members in loose forwards Pierre Bochaton<\/a> and Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, who also are yet to make their Test debuts.<\/p>\n Stade Francais full-back Leo Barre<\/a> is expected to travel with the five, having stayed in France<\/a> to recover from a dead leg after being named in the original squad.<\/p>\n Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie<\/a> has named a second-string squad for the three Tests against the All Blacks<\/a>, deciding to rest key players such as No.8 Gregory Alldritt<\/a> and full-back Thomas Ramos<\/a>, while regular captain Antoine Dupont<\/a> and half-back partner Romain Ntamack<\/a> are injured.<\/p>\n