British and Irish Lions

The Perpignan prop was called into the party at the start of the week to help with scrummaging sessions, with fellow front-row forward Sylvain Marconnet still not at full fitness as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

Mas was only scheduled to stay at Les Bleus' training base in Marcoussis until the end of the week, but Laporte announced on Friday that the player would be staying on "definitively".

"Everything is going well for Sylvain," said Laporte.

"The only problem is we want to work on opposition scrums. He isn't yet ready for this so we brought Nicolas Mas in.

"It is better that he is with us for three weeks. At least now, he knows what we are doing and he is training here. I have therefore asked that he stays definitively."

Laporte added that Mas could even play a part in France's World Cup warm-up matches.

Les Bleus play England home and away and Wales in Cardiff before their first World Cup outing, against Argentina on September 7 - the opening day of the tournament.

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.