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BORDEAUX, France, Oct 6 (Reuter) - France, who lost their way in Australia and went down to a 2-0 series defeat in June, recalled Gloucester wing Philippe Saint-Andre as captain for the Latin Cup on Monday.
They also recalled Harlequins pair Thierry Lacroix, at fly-half, and veteran flanker Laurent Cabannes, while 1995 World Cup wing forward Philippe Benetton returns after a long absence through injury.
Holders France meet Argentina, Italy and Romania in the round-robin tournament in the south of the country between 18 and 26 October.
``Philippe Saint-Andre returns as captain and we recover in him the leader we've been missing for a year,'' coach Jean-Claude Skrela said.
``What we must recover is the state of mind of the Five Nations tournament which deserted us during the tour of Australia.''
Saint-Andre missed most of last season through injury with back row forward Abdelatif Benazzi taking over as captain. He has been in good form on the wing for Gloucester, scoring two tries in their European Conference win over Beziers at the weekend.
Goalkicker Lacroix and Cabannes, who won their last caps in February and March 1996 respectively, owe their recall to their European Cup performances for their English club.
Skrela's assistant Pierre Villepreux said: ``We've discovered a new player (in Lacroix).
``Today he has an extraordinary level of play and progress. We wanted him to move the team the way we have decided we'd like them to play.''
There was no place for Brive scrum-half Philippe Carbonneau, at the centre of his side's European Cup brawl with Pontypridd of Wales three weeks ago. He is omitted for disciplinary reasons.
Team manager Jo Maso said: ``If we can become disciplined I think we'll have taken a great step. We only ask for players who are talented and disciplined.''
Fabien Galthie of Colomiers and Toulouse's Jerome Cazalbou, who is uncapped, are in the squad as scrum-halves. Guy Accoceberry, Carbonneau's chief rival for the position last season, is injured.
Pau flanker Nicolas Bacque earns his first call because Thomas Lievremont is injured.
Bourgoin wing Laurent Laflamand, who made a big impression during France's Five Nations triumph, is back after missing the Australia tour through injury.
Squad:
Backs - Jean-Luc Sadourny, Philippe Saint-Andre (captain), Laurent Leflamand, David Venditti, Stephane Glas, Christophe Lamaison, Thomas Castaignede, Nicolas Brusque, Thierry Lacroix, Fabien Galthie, Jerome Cazalbou.
Forwards - Abdelatif Benazzi, Philippe Benetton, Laurent Cabannes, Nicolas Bacque, Olivier Magne, Fabien Pelous, Olivier Merle, Olivier Brouzet, Franck Tournaire, Christian Califano, Didier Casadei, Marc Dal Maso, Raphael Ibanez.
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