The 22-year-old has three caps for Les Bleus and made his debut against the Wallabies last July in Brisbane when France lost 37-31.

He was preferred to Sale's Sebastien Bruno who impressed during the last RBS 6 Nations tournament.

''We have decided to start with Szarzewski because he is in great shape and because he finished as the number one during the physical tests,'' said France team manager Jo Maso.

Fly-half Frederic Michalak will pair up with scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who is fit despite suffering concussion during Toulouse's European Cup match against Wasps at the weekend.

Doubts remain however about centre Florian Fritz (groin) who could be replaced by Saracens' Thomas Castaignede with Perpignan's David Marty starting on the bench.

Prop Sylvain Marconnet has a rib problem but has been named among the replacements.

Flanker Thomas Lievremont, who has 27 caps, makes his international return after being absent since July 2004 while captain Fabien Pelous is deemed fit enough despite a knee injury.

After Australia, Les Bleus take on Canada, Tonga and South Africa.

France team to play Australia: Julien Laharrague (Perpignan); Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse); Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse); Remy Martin (Stade Francais), Thomas Lievremont (Biarritz), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse); Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse, captain); Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin).

Replacements: Sebastien Bruno (Sale), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Lionel Nallet (Castres), Gregory Lamboley (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Yann Delaigue (Castres), Thomas Castaignede (Saracens).