Wallabies kept in dark over French rookie

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has launched an urgent search for videotapes showing France's new first five-eighth Frederic Michalak before Sunday's test in Marseille.

But he fears his quest will be fruitless. Jones' scant knowledge of 19-year-old debutant Michalak is limited to what he has gleaned from reports on the internet.

He has had no luck finding videos of the teenager's club games with Toulouse and little help from local officials, who cannot seem to lay their hands on any tapes.

From his internet surfing, Jones said he has learned "the five-eighth is a very talented, instinctive, ball-running type player - typically French".

Michalak came off the bench late in France's 20-10 win over South Africa last week and his elevation to the starting side this week caps a remarkable year in which he has played for France at under-19 and under-21 levels.

He replaces fellow youngster Francois Gelez, who was dropped to the bench, while first choice first five-eighth Gerald Merceron has not recovered from a thigh injury which kept him out of the South Africa test.

Cameroon-born flanker Serge Betsen comes off the bench and on to the side of the scrum for his 12th cap. Patrick Tabacco moves to No 8 and Francis Ntamack has been dropped to the bench.

France introduced seven new caps against the Springboks, five of whom are under 21, and tapes of last week's test are about the only homework the meticulous Jones will be able to do on players like fullback Clement Poitreneaud, winger Aurelien Rougerie and centre Damien Traille.

New Zealand-born second five-eighth Tony Marsh, who made his French debut last week, is one of the few opponents the Australians are familiar with, from his Super 12 days.

French coach Bernard Laporte said France's famed inconsistency was their biggest flaw.

"We know we can beat anybody on our day," Laporte said. "We defeated South Africa last Saturday but we have to confirm that against the world champions and that will be another story."

Meanwhile, Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh has a lot to prove in the test after finally getting the better of George Smith in a rivalry which started when they were 11-year-olds.

Waugh and Smith have been firm friends but fierce rivals since they met on a rugby field when Narrabeen Tigers and Manly Vikings clashed in the under-12s on Sydney's northern beaches in 1991.

Fast forward to this year and the battle still rages between the two long-haired forwards, but now for the Australian openside flanker's jumper which Smith has worn brilliantly in the 10 tests since David Wilson's retirement.

But a flat display against England brought down the axe on the 21-year-old and opened the way for Waugh to start a test for the first time after coming off the bench six times to replace Smith.

"It's up to me to play as well as I can and play so well it's hard for them to take me off," Waugh said.

Should France win, it will be the first time Australia have lost back-to-back tests since Greg Smith's last two games in charge in 1997.

Graeme Bond will also start his first test after earning his three caps so far off the bench, coming into centre to replace the injured Daniel Herbert.

* South African coach Harry Viljoen yesterday made five changes from the starting line-up that lost to France as he announced his team to play Italy at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on Sunday morning.

"Several of my players are going to be starting an international for the first time," he said. "My choice has been to try and rejuvenate the team."

Some of Viljoen's decisions raised eyebrows, notably the exclusion of lock Mark Andrews, one of the few to impress against the French, and winger Pieter Rossouw, who scored the Springboks try that day.

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