The New Zealand-born centre strained the muscle in his right leg during training, but was expected to play after being named in the team.

Marsh, who will return home if it is thought he wont recover in time for the second Test, will be replaced by Ludovic Valbon, who will make his international debut.

Coach Bernard Laporte believes his new-look teams summer tour will boost their 2007 World Cup bid.

Most of the players who were called up for the Test matches against the USA and Canada are not regulars for the RBS 6 Nations champions.

But Laporte believes the matches, beginning with Saturdays duel against the United States in Hartford, will help him to identify new talent ahead of the World Cup which the French will host.

If the aim of this tour was simply to play the United States and Canada only, it would not have any interest, he said.

The objective is to see 12 new players and to look ahead to the 2007 World Cup.

Although the competition will take place in three years time, its almost like it was happening tomorrow for me.

This is what we told the players. We said that the hardest thing was not to reach a high level and earn a cap but to maintain that level.

A player like (Narbonne prop Arnaud) Martinez has a great potential but he is going to have to accept he needs to work harder to remain at the top.

(Alexandre) Peclier also has all the cards in his hands to do well as a fly-half and, even if he has not played in this position this season, it is his best position.

He is a good kicker and he is talented.

Les Bleus should defeat both the United States, in Hartford, Connecticut, and the July 10 match against Canada.

However, Laporte will not allow complacency to creep in.

A defeat of the French team is always a catastrophe, he added.

A loss against either the USA or Canada would be catastrophic for the players.

This team is very different from the one who won the Grand Slam.

But if we want to gain continuity and build up confidence, they must not lose.
It could happen, but I truly don't want to think about it.