Michalak ends five-year hiatus

Sharks flyhalf Frederic Michalak will make his first start for France in almost five years in Saturday's clash against Argentina in Tucumán.

French boss Philippe Saint-Andre made six changes to the side that lost 20-23 to Argentina in Cordoba last weekend, with Michalak slated to start his first game since his France's 34-10 defeat to the Pumas in the third-place game at the 2007 World Cup.

Saint-Andre also handed an international debut to Agen scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud, meaning that Francois Trinh-Duc and Morgan Parra will start on the bench.

"We wanted to see Fred [Michalak] and Maxime [Machenaud] for what they showed over the last fortnight," explained Saint-Andre.

Perpignan centre Maxime Mermoz replaces Wesley Fofana and will start alongside Florian Fritz, while Racing Metro's Benjamin Fall takes the places of Jean-Marcellin Buttin on the wing.

Flank Alexandre Lapandry and prop Vincent Debaty also come in for Wenceslas Lauret and the injured Yvan Watremez.

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Benjamin Fall, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 7 Louis Picamoles, 6 Alexandre Lapandry, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape (captain), 3 David Attoub, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Vincent Debaty.

Replacements:  16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Christophe Samson, 19 Wenceslas Lauret, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Francois Trinh-Duc, 22 Wesley Fofana.

Date: Saturday, June 23

Venue: Estadio José Fierro, Tucumán.

Kick-off: 18.10 (21.10 GMT)

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Christie du Preez (South Africa)

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)