France will need to win, and win well, against Namibia at the Stade Toulouse on Sunday night in order to get their World Cup campaign well and truly back on course.

Only an impressive, bonus-point victory over their unfancied opponents will dilute some of the criticism directed the way of Les Bleus, and their coach Bernard Laporte, since their shock loss to Argentina on the opening night of the tournament.

The Pumas clearly had not read the script for their clash with France and there has been no end of soul searching in the French camp since they went down 12-17 at the Stade de France.

So far, the French public have taken the World Cup to their hearts and the packed stadiums, even for the games between the so-called minnows, have been highly encouraging.

But it is fair to say that for the tournament to be an outstanding success on all fronts then France must do well and that starts with an emphatic victory in Toulouse.

That would have been considered a formality before the tournament started but the second-tier teams have proved anything but pushovers in this World Cup and Namibia's brave performance against Ireland last week suggests they will at least offer some resistance.

Ireland struggled to cope with the Namibians' physicality in their 32-17 victory and France will need to subdue the African side up front before cutting loose in the backs.

France knew they would be facing a tough time in Pool D, the &lsquogroup of death', and they would have seen their main challenges coming from the Pumas and Ireland.

But now they must defeat Namibia convincingly and also subdue the abrasive Georgians, who have proved the surprise team of the World Cup so far.

Georgia pushed Ireland all the way o0n Friday evening and can consider themselves unlucky to have lost 14-10. Argentina's 33-3 victory over the former Soviet state now looks a far more impressive effort.

Not surprisingly Laporte has made sweeping changes but has still been able to name a starting XV that should prove far too strong for the Namibians.

Dropped from the team are captain Rafael Ibanez, vice-skipper Fabien Pelous and veteran openside Serge Betsen.

Only three players have been retained. Cedric Heymans is moved from full-back to wing, Pieter de Villiers stays at prop and Damien Traille remains at centre.

In comes the mercurial Frederic Michalak (pictured) at fly-half after David Skrela failed to make an impact against Argentina.

Michalak is partnered by scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, who has been handed the captaincy and will also likely take the place kicks.

Number eight Julien Bonnaire, and flankers Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Nyanga form an entirely new back row, while the rampaging Sebastien Chabal starts in the second row with Lionel Nallet.

David Marty returns in the midfield in place of Yannick Jauzion and Vincent Clerc gets a run out on the wing.

Another upset is inconceivable for France but Namibia will hope to prove at the very least that they have more than one big performance in them at this World Cup.

France: 15-Clement Poitrenaud, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-David Marty, 12-Damien Traille, 11-Cedric Haymans, 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Jean-Baptiste Elissade (capt), 8-Julien Bonnaire, 7-Thierry Dusautoir, 6-Yannick Nyanga, 5-Lionel Nallet, 4-Sebastien Chabal, 3-Pieter de Villiers, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 1-Jean-Baptiste Poux.

Replacements: 16-Raphael Ibanez, 17-Nicolas Mas, 18-Fabien Pelous, 19-Imanol Harinordoquy 20-Lionel Beauxis, 21-Yannick Jauzion, 22-Aurelien Rougerie

Namibia: 15-Tertius Losper, 14-Ryan Witbooi, 13-Bratley Langenhoven, 12-Piet van Zyl, 11-Heinli Bock, 10-Emile Wessels, 9-Jurie van Tonder, 8-Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7-Michael MacKenzie, 6-Jacques Burger, 5-Nico Esterhuize, 4-Wacca Kazombiaze, 3-Jane du Toit, 2-Hugo Horn, 1-Kees Lensing (capt).

Replacements: 16-Johannes Meyer, 17-Johnny Redelinghuys, 18-Herman Lindvelt, 19-Tinus du Plessis, 20-Eugene Jantjies, 21-Lu-Wayne Botes 22-Melrick Africa.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport