Bastareaud apologised on Tuesday for lying about being beaten up

Centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of France's 30-man squad to face South Africa next month but fly-half Frederic Michalak has been recalled.

Bastareaud, 21, was omitted despite apologising on Tuesday for lying about being assaulted in New Zealand in June.

"It'd have been better if he had done it (apologised) before," said coach Marc Lievremont.

Michalak has not played for France since March but returns because of a hand injury to Lionel Beauxis.

Bastareaud was handed a three-month suspension by the French Rugby Federation, commuted to rugby-related community service, after admitting he had lied about being assaulted to cover up a drink-related facial injury.

But Lievremont offered Bastareaud hope of a recall, saying he could make changes to his squad for the game against Samoa on 21 November and the match with New Zealand the following weekend.

"Water will go under the bridge and if his performances are good I hope he will be back with the French squad," he said.

France squad to face South Africa on 13 November:

Forwards: Fabien Barcella, Thomas Domingo, Nicolas Mas, Sylvain Marconnet, William Servat, Dimitri Szarzewski, Alexandre Lapandry, Romain Millo-Chluski, Pascal Pape, Sebastien Chabal, Lionel Nallet, Luc Ducalcon, Thierry Dusautoir, Antoine Burban, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Backs: Julien Dupuy, Morgan Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Marty, Yannick Jauzion, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Medard, Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc, Benjamin Fall, Yann David, Frederic Michalak, Damien Traille.

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