France will start their three-Test series against the Wallabies without inspirational captain Thierry Dusautoir.

Les Bleus coach Phillipe Saint-Andre pulled a major surprise on Wednesday night by leaving Dusautoir out of his team for Saturday night’s series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

The 2011 IRB player of the year underwent surgery to his left arm after tearing his bicep during this year’s French Top 14 competition and is still regaining full power.

Although he finished the season with Toulouse, Saint-Andre has preferred to rest him along with a number of players who were involved in the weekend’s Top 14 final between Toulon and Castres.

Bernard Le Roux has been included in the French back-row for Dusautoir, who will return for the second Test, while veteran flyhalf Frederic Michalak will start at No.10 despite just flying into Brisbane on Tuesday morning.

Michalak, 31, was left out of Toulon’s star-studded 23-man side for the club decider but remained in France to watch Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau lead their team to the championship.

With first-choice five-eighth Remi Tales playing for Castres, Saint-Andre was also mulling over whether to play halfback Morgan Parra at No. 10 for the first time since the 2011 World Cup final.

But he was confident Michalak would overcome jet lag and three weeks without a game.

“When we picked the team, he was in good form. He played three straight in big games for Toulon in place of Jonny Wilkinson,” Saint-Andre said.

“That is the reality of French rugby.”

France: Hugo Bonneval, Yohann Huget, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Felix Le Bourhis, Frederic Michalak, Maxime Machenaud; Damien Chouly, Bernard Le Roux, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Nicolas Mas, Guilhelm Guirado, Thomas Domingo. Res: Christopher Tolofua, Vincent Debaty, Rabah Slimani, Alexandre Flanquart, Antoine Burban, Morgan Parra, Remi Lamerat, Brice Dulin.