France on Sunday indicated they were replacing scrum half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde with Julien Tomas of Montpellier for their autumn test with Australia on Saturday at Stade de France.

Elissalde was carried off during Saturday's 42-17 win over the Pacific Islanders - who played most of the match with 14 men after Napoleoni Nalaga was dismissed for a head-tackle on his rival.

French team doctor Jean-Philippe Hager said overnight that Elissalde had had a precautionary scan immediately after going off which did not show up any serious injury and the player was able to watch the end of the game.

"It came out of the blue and I don't really remember what happened, only that it ended up with me being carried off," said Elissalde.

"I was knocked out cold but I came round ten seconds later," said the Toulouse star.

International Rugby Board regulations stipulate that a player who has been knocked unconscious cannot play for 21 days.

"We cannot take a risk with his health, he was badly shaken. We are going to send him back to his club and his family," said France coach Marc Lievremont.

Fellow scrum-half Morgan Parra is already out of the Australia clash owing to a hand injury sustained in the 12-6 win over Argentina two weeks ago after he came on as a sub for Elissalde.

The addition of Tomas is the only change to the squad from that called up to face the Pacific Islanders.

Tomas, 23, won his only cap to date as a replacement in a Six Nations win over Italy last March.

AFP