KEY POINTS:
Damien Traille will replace injured Frederic Michalak at first five-eighth when Six Nations rugby champions France begin their World Cup preparations with successive tests against the All Blacks.
Toulouse's Michalak has been sidelined by a right knee ligament injury.
"Traille can field the number 10 spot," coach Bernard Laporte said when naming a 22-strong squad for tests on November 12 and November 19 (NZT).
"He was first choice during the match against South Africa this summer and he did pretty well.
"We wanted to see him again in this position and we thought it was worth giving him another try."
Traille, usually a centre for Biarritz and France, helped his country to a convincing 36-26 win over the Springboks in a one-off test in Cape Town on June 24 when he was named for the first time at first-five.
"We have Damien but we can also rely on Yannick Jauzion, who can slot into the position," Laporte said.
"Jauzion is a centre but he is a smart player. He can do much better than others guys who play at flyhalf on a weekly basis."
Laporte also called up Clermont No 8 Elvis Vermeulen, who returns for the first time since 2001.
"We had him in the squad in 2001 because we thought he had great potential," Laporte said.
"He failed to live up to our expectations. Now, we want to give him a second chance. He has trained hard during the summer break. I would say he has trained harder than he ever did before," Laporte said.
"He lost six or seven kilos and he showed great will. It's normal to have him back. We are one year from the start of the World Cup and we want to have the best men available."
France play New Zealand first at Lyon's Gerland Stadium and then at the Stade de France before hosting Argentina in Paris on November 25.
"The aim is to get three victories," team manager Jo Maso said.
- REUTERS
