France have discarded first five Frederic Michalak and called up uncapped Jules Plisson in naming a 30-man preliminary squad for the Six Nations rugby championship.
Uncapped backs Geoffrey Palis and Hugo Bonneval and flanker Antoine Burban were also selected by manager Philippe Saint-Andre for a week-long training camp before the squad is reduced to 23 players ahead of the opening game at home against England on Febuary 1.
The absence of Michalak was expected with him experiencing a difficult season with his club Toulon, for whom he has started only two out of 16 league games so far.
Plisson has been regularly preferred to South Africa's Morne Steyn at Stade, leading the Paris outfit to second spot in the French Top 14.
France, who finished bottom of the Six Nations in 2013 with only one victory, are without several injured key players, including scrumhalf Morgan Parra, centre Florian Fritz and winger Vincent Clerc.
