Australia v France: Teams

Sharpe: Injury blow

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A training-ground injury has forced Australian lock Nathan Sharpe out of Saturday's second Test against France.

Sharpe will miss the game in Brisbane after sustaining a groin strain when he stumbled during training on Thursday.

"It's unfortunate but the injury is restricting Nathan, so the choice was made for us," said Australia coach Robbie Deans, whose side won the first Test by a record margin of 34-13.

"We gave it as much time as we could, to allow it to settle but with the game just two days away, we had to make the call and move on."

Dean Mumm will replace Sharpe, with Queensland flanker Hugh McMeniman moving up to the bench.

Sharpe joins second rower Dan Vickerman (ankle surgery), Matt Dunning (infection), Lote Tuqiri (knee), Chris Latham and Wycliff Palu (both shoulder) on the injury list.

Nine of the starting team have played fewer than 20 internationals and only six started in the Wallabies World Cup quarterfinal loss to England last year.

Winger Lachlan Turner will make his test debut for Australia, replacing Tuqiri on the left wing. Stephen Hoiles will take over from Palu at No. 8.

French reshuffle

France coach Marc Lievremont has made 11 personnel or positional changes to his line up for the second Test at Suncorp Stadium.

Lievremont has selected an entirely reshaped backline in which Benjamin Thiery moves from the wing to full-back in place of Pepito Elhorga.

Maxim Mermoz and Thibault Lacroix replace Damien Traille and Francois Trinh-Duc in the centers, Trinh-Duc moves to fly-half in place of Benjamin Boyet, Sebastian Tillous-Borde takes over at halfback from Dimitri Yachvili and David Janin is promoted from the bench to the left wing.

Right winger Alexis Palisson is the only back to hold his place and position from the first test line up.

The second row of Sebastien Chabal and captain Lionel Nallet remains intact - the only unchanged combination in the side - while Pierre Correia replaces Lionel Faure at loosehead prop.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (capt), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lachlan Turner, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess: 1 Benn Robinson, 2 Stephen Moore, 3 Al Baxter, 4 James Horwill, 5 Dean Mumm, 6 Rocky Elsom, 7 Phil Waugh, 8 Stephen Hoiles.
Reserves: Adam Freier, Ben Alexander, Hugh McMeniman, George Smith, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Cameron Shepherd.

France: 15 Benjamin Thiery, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Maxim Mermoz, 12 Thibault Lacroix, 11 David Janin, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Sebastian Tillous-Borde; 1 Pierre Correia, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 3 Renaud Boyoud, 4 Sebastien Chabal, 5 Lionel Nallet (capt), 6 Matthieu Lievremont, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 8 Fulgence Ouedraogo.
Reserves: Benjamin Kayser, Benoit Lecouls, Benjamin Boyet, Louis Picamoles, Yannick Caballero, Dimitri Yachvili, Jean-Baptiste Peyras.

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