Thierry Dusautoir is to take over as captain of France from Lionel Nallet, coach Marc Lievremont said on Monday.

The 27-year-old Ivory Coast-born player stood in for the injured Nallet during this year's tour of Australia and New Zealand and impressed in the way he handled the job.

"We are in a crucial period at the moment with a squad that is well established, which is competitive, and which is gradually building up for the World Cup of 2011," said Lievremont.

"Thierry has the experience now to fully take on the responsibilities of the captaincy."

Dusautoir won the first of his 25 caps in the 62-14 win over Romania in June, 2006 and then won a last-minute call-up into the French squad for the 2007 World Cup to replace the injured Elvis Vermeulen.

He was outstanding during that tournament as the French, on home turf, made it through to the semi-finals before losing to England in Paris.

"The determining factor has been Thierry's rise in power over the last two years," Lievremont said.

"We're heading little by little towards the 2011 World Cup and Thierry today has the standing to assume this job."

Lievremont said that Nallet had done nothing wrong to lose the captaincy and that the 33-year-old lock would be given a key role as back-up to Dusautoir.

Dusautoir will be captain of France for the Test matches against South Africa in Toulouse on November 13, Samoa on November 21 at the Stade de France and New Zealand a week later in Marseille.

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