Michalak at fly-half for France

Editor

Despite being unable to make his club's squad, Frédéric Michalak will start at fly-half for France against the Wallabies on Saturday.

Despite being unable to make his club's matchday squad, Toulon's Frédéric Michalak will start at fly-half for France against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.

Tour captain Thierry Dusautoir has not been selected and with Pascal Papé not included in the tour squad, Nicolas Mas will skipper the side.

Coach Philippe Saint-André has made eight changes to the starting XV that lost to Ireland on the final day of the Six Nations as Bordeaux-Bègles wing Félix Le Bourhis makes his debut.

None of the Toulon and Castres players who took part in last weekend's Top 14 Final have been included.

There are changes in every sector as Guilhem Guirado starts at hooker in the absence of the injured Dimitri Szarzewski.

Sébastien Vahaamahina takes over from Papé in the second row.

Fulgence Ouedraogo returns from a long injury lay-off to line up on the flank with Bernard le Roux ahead of Louis Picamoles and Alexandre Lapandry

Although he only arrived four days before the first Test, Michalak is the only specialist fly-half available to due to the omission of François Trinh-Duc from the touring party. The Toulon playmakers takes over from Remi Tálès at fly-half while 26-year-old Le Bourhis replaces Toulouse wing Maxime Médard.

Gaël Fickou shifts from 12 to 13 as Wesley Fofana returns and Mathieu Bastareaud is left out.

Stade Français full-back Hugo Bonneval wins his third cap in the place of Brice Dulin.

France: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gaël Fickou , 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Felix le Bourhis, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas (c), 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements:16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Antoine Burban, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Lamerat, 23 Brice Dulin.

Date: Saturday, June 7
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20:00 local (10:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)