France will gamble on Lionel Beauxis at flyhalf and Damien Traille at fullback for their World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.

Coach Bernard Laporte, who announced his team on Wednesday, preferred the 21-year-old Beauxis to Frederic Michalak, who is more creative but sometimes erratic, and David Skrela, France's number one flyhalf during the last Six Nations.

Another shock decision was the selection of inside centre Damien Traille at fullback, a position where he has only played as a replacement in a few games. Vincent Clerc and Cedric Heymans will be on the wing.

Captain Raphael Ibanez, lock Fabien Pelous and prop Pieter de Villiers, who featured in France's stunning win over the All Blacks in their 1999 World Cup semi-final at Twickenham, all start.

Wing Christophe Dominici, who also played in the 1999 semi, is on the bench.

Team - 15-Damien Traille, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-David Marty, 12-Yannick Jauzion, 11-Cedric Heymans, 10-Lionel Beauxis, 9-Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8-Julien Bonnaire, 7-Thierry Dusautoir, 6-Serge Betsen, 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Fabien Pelous, 3-Pieter de Villiers, 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain), 1-Olivier Milloud

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