The 22-year-old Parra has never started a game for France at fly-half having won all 32 of his previous caps from scrum-half.

But with Dimitri Yachvili returning at nine Parra gets the chance to match up with the world’s best in the form of the fit-again Dan Carter, but the Clermont star admits it is a battle he is relishing.

“This is one of the biggest tests of my career, It's a big challenge,” said Parra.

“Carter is the best in the world. I will try and match him, try and stand up to him.”

Elsewhere Aurelien Rougerie reverts to centre with Maxime Medard back on the wing while in the front row Dimitri Szarzewski is preferred to William Servat at hooker.

The other surprise comes in the back row as Imanol Harinordoquy remains on the bench from the Canada game while captain Thierry Dusautoir returns to partner Julien Bonnaire and Louis Picamoles.

15. Damien Traille – Biarritz
14. Vincent Clerc – Toulouse
13. Aurelien Rougerie – Clermont Auvergne
12. Maxime Mermoz – Perpignan
11. Maxime Medard – Toulouse
10. Morgan Parra – Clermont Auvergne
9. Dimitri Yachvili – Biarritz
1. Jean-Baptiste Poux – Toulouse
2. Dimitri Szarzewski – Stade Francais
3. Luc Ducalcon – Castres
4. Pascal Pape – Stade Francais
5. Lionel Nallet – Racing Metro
6. Thierry Dusautoir – Toulouse
7. Julien Bonnaire – Clermont Auvergne
8. Louis Picamoles – Toulouse

Replacements:
16. William Servat – Toulouse
17. Fabien Barcella - Biarritz
18. Julien Pierre – Clermont Auvergne
19. Imanol Harinordoquy - Biarritz
20. Francois Trinh-Duc – Montpellier
21. Fabrice Estebanez – Racing Metro
22. Cedric Heymans – Toulouse