Bleus pivot: Frédéric Michalak
France coach Philippe Saint-André has named Frédéric Michalak at fly-half in a much-changed team to face Australia in Paris on Saturday.
In total there are 13 changes to the starting team that lost to the Wallabies the last time these teams met, in 2010.
Castres prop Yannick Forestier will make his Test debut having been named ahead of Thomas Domingo, who must settle for a place on the bench.
Accompanying Michalak at in the half-backs will be Maxime Machenaud, who made his debut alongside the 30-year-old in the last match played by Les Bleus, a 59-10 rout of Argentina.
It means a spot on the bench for the influential Morgan Parra, the accomplished Clermont scrum-half undoubtedly assured of a valuable role in the second half. Michalak will take the goal kicking duties.
"The selections follow the logic of the last Test in Argentina when we were happy with Maxime and Frederic Michalak," said Saint-André.
"The choice was also made more simple by the fact that Morgan has only been able to train for three days."
Clermont centre Wesley Fofana has been shifted to the wing to while Toulouse battering ram Florian Fritz teams up with Perpignan's Maxime Mermoz in midfield.
In the back row, Yannick Nyanga will play the role usually filled by absent skipper Thierry Dusauatoir.
Amongst the replacements, Toulon lock Jocelino Suta will win his first cap if he comes off the bench.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Florian Fritz , 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé (c), 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Yoann Huget.
Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
lacroix says...
@newJ4a... how many of this side payed in the RWC final? this french line up have minimal training time together. plus in the world cup final france fielded several players who were/are best in the world in their positions and are not playing today. so not much relevance to that game and this one
australia should win this - much as i'd love to see france win, basic logic and form does not suggest they will. i'll be very pleased if france come close, and much more interested in the performance.
Posted 14:06 10th November 2012
new_j4a says...
@Fatflanker, because we all remember how they played in the RWC final....which of course, given that this is the famously mercurial French, is not a good reason to expect the same fantastically high level of skill, commitment, and flair.
Posted 17:23 09th November 2012
BradS says...
Michalak and Elissalde were the halves in France's most recent victories over Aus (2004 in Paris and 2005 in Marseilles).
Posted 08:09 09th November 2012
NHsaints says...
You'd think that France would have been better off with a Fickou-Fofanna midfield and Huget on the wing...we'll see though because this team does look dangerous. The Australian backrow are going to have a really tough time containing Picamoles.
Posted 07:37 09th November 2012
Fatflanker says...
France would appear to be heavy favorites for this game if the PR poll is anything to go by. I can't see the justification frankly.
Posted 21:29 08th November 2012
rolf says...
Happy to see Fred Michalak back in bleu!
I never quite understood, why they didnt take him to RWC.
He can lead and point.
Allez les bleus!
Posted 20:05 08th November 2012
new_j4a says...
@jonesy2 who says..."i can smell another significant thrashing coming the french's way" I thought the French were going to win this; since your prediction, I am sure. I am going to put money on it. Why don't you do so too....significant you say, so why don't you take Oz by more than 15? And then do remember to come back on here and let us celebrate with you.
Posted 18:09 08th November 2012
Sincero says...
Frenchies should take this, and I hope they do
Posted 15:52 08th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ Rosbif - "It feels to me that PSA has picked a team to counter Aus rather than force Aus to combat France's strengths." I completely agree with you.
I would have preferred Freddie at 9, where he does his most damage and Fofana at 13.
Should be a cracking game and a real test for both teams.
Posted 15:06 08th November 2012
heathy says...
Here we go again in a very interesting encounter. This side, for me, could go either way. No doubt there is flair aplenty and if the French (as is always with the French) can get their tails up then they are quite capable of running any side ragged. Wallabies are not at their best at the moment so this could be a scalp. The French just need to go through some phases and settle in as a team as many are playing out of position. Once they are in their stride (and are not well behind) then they can let go and play the French way. If it clicks, the Aussies will not live with them. Go France!!!
Posted 14:02 08th November 2012
tha_mai says...
Looking forward to this match, may well be the best one of the weekend, though admit my head starts to hurt looking at the schedule, too much!
Posted 13:30 08th November 2012
new_j4a says...
France to win it by more than 7 and if they fire, particularly Freddie, then by 15+.
Posted 13:14 08th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Okay, I'm very pleased that I've got ESPN HD this weekend. I'll be savouring this match because I'm cancelling my subscription at the end of the season. Can't justify £10 / month for two or three test matches in November. £120 is a nice starter to build a trip out to paris to catch the game live!
Posted 12:42 08th November 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Oh dear, Freddie at 10 in an International jersey just doen't do it for me. At club level he's exciting and off the cuff, but lacks the organisational strength and discipline to do the job. Oh how I hope he has changed. Fofana on the wing, give me a break he's a great centre and should play there, Fritz is strong, steady but short on flair and prone to the odd temperemental flash of stupidity.If he's playing then he should be paired with Fickou at least there is club understanding there. But playing backs out of position is a folly and rarely works. The back row looks lively and its so good to see Nyanga back in the fold. But Szarzewski rarely does it at International level, he's just not in the same class as our retired friend William. Picamoles is proving himself the best 8 in the northern hemisphere, it will be good to see how he goes in this one. Australia will see themselves having a chance here as the one thing they rarely lack is defensive organisation and the one thing the French sometimes lack is patience.
Posted 12:31 08th November 2012
carpelone says...
Hopefully, Freddie has learnt something from his stint Down Under...
Posted 12:22 08th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
i can smell another significant thrashing coming the french's way
Posted 11:13 08th November 2012
Bones7 says...
Very dangerous looking side packed full of runners and players the Aussies will not be familiar with. It looks like a side picked for expansive rugby apart from Fritz who is a bit conservative, I'd prefer to see Fofana at 13 and Huget at 14
Posted 10:38 08th November 2012
Rosbif says...
A win is certainly possible, but i'm still pragmatic. It feels to me that PSA has picked a team to counter Aus rather than force Aus to combat France's strengths. I'm thinking about Ouedraogo vs Gunther, which looks like speed vs power. And Fritz/Mermoz vs Fickou/Fofana which looks like a "safe" selection, i.e. better defence, better kicking game, but not the same flair, speed or insouciance!!
The other big concern is how many back-line players are out of position. Michalak at 10, when he plays 9 for Toulon. Mermoz at 12 when he plays 13 at Toulon. Fofana at 14 when he plays 12 at Clermont. etc etc. This is what ML did 2 years ago. He played Traille at 10 and Rougerie at 13 with Jauzion in between at 12 to have big tacklers in the midfield. Aus simply moved the ball outside them to JOC, Mitchell, Beale etc and had a field day!!
Still. Excitement levels are building nicely. Forestier must be better than I thought. Clermont will be happy that their players are mostly getting a rest on the bench - maybe they will all start vs Arg or Samoa? Also, very excited to see Dulin play. Hope he goes well.
Posted 10:38 08th November 2012
mlbp says...
@ Rosbif
You almost nailed it! It's a surprise to see Forestier starting. PSA's pack is like the one you and I chose but with the inclusion of Forestier.
Fofana as a winger... That's strange again, but better to have him on the field as a starter than riding pine.
@lacroix
What do you think about Fofana as a winger? I agree with you he should definitely start. Maybe PSA is a little wary of the Aussie centres and needs a strong defensive system, hence Fritz is the obvious choice because of his tackling, but I don't see much of a threat from Tapuai as 13.
I think France will do well. Great pack and Machenaud and Michalak can move things around and wreak havoc with the backs. Dulin can join the line at pace and look for the gaps that Mermoz can create with his side-stepping. Fritz can be used as a battering ram and Nyanga can be in support when the ball goes wide. The battle up front will be interesting. Maestri and Pape will be vital not only in the lineouts. They will have to tackle hard. Ouedraogo will have to take Dusautoir's role.
Posted 10:23 08th November 2012
melkdave says...
Well @Rosbif and @Lacriox mon ami , you called it team wise.now if only France are up for it .hopefully they can get a big win in Paris as i hope they can lol.Its not going to be easy as Australia have alot of pride,,and despite being injury ravaged some quality players .But i still think its possible
Posted 10:06 08th November 2012