Perhaps, just perhaps, under the studious mien of the French coach Bernard Laporte, there beats the heart of a gambler.

Having mumbled about the vital importance of defence all through last winter's Six Nations, and selected players like the ageing yet excellent Jean-Luc Sadourny, Laporte suddenly fielded seven uncapped youngsters, including two teenagers, against the Springboks last weekend, and watched them produce an attacking victory in the finest Gallic tradition.

Flushed perhaps by the success of the youngsters, Laporte has gone further down the same road with his selection of Frederic Michalak (19), for tonight's Test (k.o. 7.45 p.m.) against Australia in Marseille.

After coming on as a substitute against the Springboks, the Toulouse prodigy will become the youngest French outhalf to start a Test. He will also take the kicks

For the French, there is clearly a feeling of unfinished business about this encounter. It stems in part from their World Cup final defeat of 1999, partly from the fact that they have not beaten the Wallabies since 1993, and have won just once in their last nine meetings.