French journalists even asked Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps this week for his view of the multinational flavour of France's squad. "I find it deeply troubling. Scott Spedding is French. Does he have the right to play or not?" Camou said. "Are there some origins that count or not? Does he have the right to have a choice of nationality or not? We have to stop the dispute. "We didn't ask these questions before. In 1995 [at the World Cup in South Africa] the France captain was Moroccan [Abdelatif Benazzi]. That didn't trouble anyone." Bayonne-based 28-year-old South Africa-born Spedding has been called up with France's two first-choice fullbacks injured.

Fellow South Africans Rory Kockott and Bernard Le Roux and New Zealand prop Uini Atonio complete the international flavour. Ntamack, who played 46 Tests, hit out and told Midi Olympique: "I am completely against it. Not against the players, far from it, as long as they deserve their place. "However, I think the France team should remain the preserve of French players, even if I played with some super guys like [South African] Pieter De Villiers and [New Zealander] Tony Marsh." The presence of international players has caused unrest in French rugby ranks. Former Wallabies Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Digby Ioane, James O'Connor and Peter Kimlin are among a host of Australians playing in France.

There are plenty of South African and New Zealand expats as well. Some fear their presence has hurt French rugby's ability to compete with the best Test teams in the world because the development of local talent is being pushed aside. It has led to a quota being introduced in the rich French Top 14 competition, with clubs required to field an average of 12 local players in their game-day squad of 23 throughout the season. When asked for his assessment of the French situation, Phipps said: "If they're playing for France, they obviously call France home. "We have the same sort of scenario, we've got people from all over the world playing for our team, they're so passionate about living and playing for Australia that they put their bodies on the line for the country.

"We're proud of the diversity we have in our team, we love playing together just like the French would be." According to IRB rules, a player is eligible for national team selection if he is: Born in that country, or;

One of his parents or grandparents were born in that country, or

If he has been a resident of that country for 36 consecutive months. Fijian-born Australian winger Henry Speight had to wait four years to be available to play for the Wallabies after a bungle with his eligibility. Spedding qualifies to play for France through residency after he joined Brive as a 22-year-old six years ago. He only received his French passport three weeks ago.

"It has been a long road to arrive at this. It is a huge moment in my life," Spedding said before his debut. "It was always a dream for me, but I never thought it would happen. I hope it is just the beginning. "Each time a squad was announced since 2011 when I was eligible for selection and I wasn't in it I lost hope, although I kept the dream alive in a small locker in my head. "I already know the Marseillaise [the national anthem]. I am French." Spedding arrived in France with nothing but a backpack.

"I've perhaps got some qualities that come from South Africa, but I can say that I was formed in France because I was a long way from being a good player when I arrived here," he said. "It's amazing to wear this jersey. This country has given me a lot and now France is giving me the chance to wear its colours. "I'll give everything to bring honour to this shirt because I know it's sacred."