Michalak left on bench for France

LONDON, England -- France have ignored the claims of Frederik Michalak and opted for the inexperienced Lionel Beauxis in the crucial fly-half position for Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand in Cardiff.

Beauxis, who has just nine caps, made his first start in the tournament, scoring 24 points, as the French rounded off their Pool D campaign with 64-7 thrashing of Georgia on Sunday.

Michalak had played a key role in the previous Pool D victory against Ireland which effectively sealed France's passage to the quarterfinals, but is an erratic performer.

David Skrela started the World Cup as France's first choice at fly-half, but was injured during the disastrous opening match loss to Argentina.

He has recovered from an Achilles injury, but omitted from the 22 to play tournament favorites New Zealand.

French coach Bernard Laporte said that he believed a strong kicking game was needed against the All Blacks.

"Beauxis played well against Georgia, he played well against Wales in the warmup game, and he played well against Scotland when we won the Six Nations.

"We think against New Zealand its very important to have a good kicker at No. 10. And we have Michalak on the bench who can enter at the end of the game to lift us," he said.

Laporte also made another surprising selection in the backs with Damien Traille -- normally an inside center -- selected at full-back ahead of Clement Poitrenaud.

Yannick Jauzion and David Marty continue in midfield with Jean-Baptiste Elissalde asked to line-up alongside Beauxis at half-back.

Crowd favorite Sebastien Chabal has been left on the bench, with former Les Blues captain Fabien Pelous, who appeared in the second half against Georgia after overcoming a knee injury, partnering Jerome Thion at lock.

Toulouse's Thierry Dusautoir is given the nod at openside and will link up with Serge Betsen and Julien Bonnaire in the back row while captain Raphael Ibanez returns at hooker after missing the Georgia win.

France team: D Traille; V Clerc, D Marty, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; L Beauxis, J-B Elissalde; O Milloud, R Ibanez (capt), P de Villiers, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire.

Replacements: D Szarzewski, J-B Poux, S Chabal, I Harinordoquy, F Michalak, C Dominici, C Poitrenaud.

France's opponents New Zealand have appealed against the two-week suspension handed to forward Sione Lauaki following an alleged high tackle in the All Blacks' 85-8 win against Romania on Saturday.

If the number eight fails in his appeal in Paris on Thursday, then he will miss the quarterfinals and -- if New Zealand beat France -- also the semifinals.

In other rugby news, former South Africa coach Nick Mallett has been handing the task of coaching Italy, the country's rugby federation announced.

Mallett succeeds Pierre Berbizier who stood down from the post after Italy's exit from the World Cup after their 18-16 defeat against Scotland on Saturday.

"The president of the Italian rugby federation Giancarlo Dondi announced that an agreement has been made with Nicholas Vivian Howard Mallett who, from November 1, will be the coach of the Italian team," said a statement.

Meanwhile, Italy center Mirco Bergamasco has been given a two-match ban for tripping Scotland fly-half Dan Parks during the final World Cup Pool C tie on Sunday.

With the Italians knocked out of the tournament following the 18-16 defeat, Bergamasco's ban will start when he returns to club duty with French side Stade Francais on October 8. E-mail to a friend