Califano proves fitness to stake claim for France recall

Bernard Laporte, the France coach, has spent a fair bit of time in England over the last couple of months, and now we know why. Christian Califano, once the best prop forward in the world and now the best prop at Saracens RFC, is back in the Six Nations frame for the first time since 2001, having impressed the Tricolore hierarchy with his new-found fitness and appetite for the game at the top level.

Laporte watched Califano in Premiership action at Vicarage Road, and gave Thomas Castaignède, another cross-Channel Saracen, a check at the same time. Castaignède made an immediate impact, and when Tony Marsh, the world-class outside-centre from Montferrand, fell injured before the autumn international programme, he was drafted into the equation.

Califano has now joined him in a 30-man squad preparing for the opening fixture of tournament, against England at Twickenham on 15 February.

With Marsh still injured – the Toulouse wing, Cedric Heymans, the Béziers lock, Thibault Privat, and the Bourgoin flanker, Sebastien Chabal, are also crocked – Castaignède has every chance of facing Les Rosbifs, three years after being defeated by them in Paris.

Califano, who can operate on either side of the scrum, has more of a job on his hands: Jean-Jacques Crenca, of Agen, and Sylvain Marconnet, of Stade Français, both of whom can play a bit, are the other loose-head specialists in the party, while Pieter de Villiers is a clear first choice at tight head. But front-rowers often move onwards and upwards once they hit their thirties, and Califano is in his 31st year.

Like Christophe Dominici, the Stade Français wing who has also been recalled to national colours, Califano impressed Laporte after completing an exhaustive and exhausting fitness session at the new training headquarters near Paris. "He performed an excellent series of physical tests," the coach said yesterday. "This is a natural move for us."

There are three uncapped players in the 30: the young Biarritz centre, Guillaume Bousses, who impressed during the Heineken Cup match at Northampton on Saturday; David Couzinet, a 27-year-old lock who did not feature for Biarritz at the weekend; and Mathieu Lièvremont, of Agen, who has played A-level rugby in the back row.

Aurelien Rougerie, the Montferrand wing currently involved in a nasty legal spat with the former England hooker Phil Greening after sustaining a serious throat injury during a pre-season friendly against Wasps, is also present and correct.

Needless to say – this is a French selection, after all – there are also some notable absentees. Frederic Michalak, the all-purpose wunderkind of Tricolore rugby, has not impressed with his performances for Toulouse, and misses out. So, more peculiarly, does Olivier Azam, who could hardly have impressed more with his ferocious hooking displays for Gloucester this term. Stephane Glas, the cultured Stade Français centre, has been omitted, although Laporte admitted he might reconsider during the course of the tournament. The same goes for the No 8 Patrick Tabacco, who is working his way back to full fitness after ankle problems.

Worcester have signed the out-sized Welshman Craig Quinnell until the end of the season, by which time they will hope to have secured promotion to the Premiership. The lock, who weighs in at 20st, was released from his Saracens contract last month, having moved there from Cardiff in the summer.