CARDIFF (AFP) - France look set to rely on an old-fashioned kick and lineout strategy when they face favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the World Cup at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Bernard Laporte, by installing Lionel Beauxis, known for his kicking ability, at fly-half rather than the gifted but erratic Frederic Michalak and recalling veteran lock Fabien Pelous, appears determined to exploit the supposed lineout weakness of the otherwise seemingly invincible All Blacks.

Not that Laporte, whose side have lost their last seven Tests against this weekend's opponents, has been calling them that. In an attempt to strip them of what he calls their "mythology", Laporte has banned France from using the term "All Blacks".

As well as Beauxis, he has also gone for another big boot in giving a first Test start at full-back to Damien Traille.

"New Zealand are a team who try to keep you in your half and so we need to be able to go out quickly and play in their half of the field," said Laporte.

Beauxis, a 21-year-old who has played just nine Tests added: "I don't ask myself too many questions. I'm not the type who gets too stressed out by life."

And Laporte insisted his fly-half would keep his cool on the pitch as well as off it. "He is a big character. I'm not worried about him."

The theory of what Laporte, who after this tournament is set to swop rugby for politics by becoming sports minister, is trying to do has a certain logic.

But the big question is are the players good enough to execute his tactical plan and is that, in itself, enough to beat New Zealand?

Beauxis and Traille will need to be spot-on with their kicking games while the much-vaunted lineout ability of the back-row trio, particularly the impressive No 8 Julien Bonnaire, will also need to hold good.

Meanwhile should fresh inspiration be required under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium, Laporte has the option of bringing Michalak off the bench.

The All Blacks, yet to be tested at this tournament, have concerns over fly-half Dan Carter, widely regarded as the world's best current No 10, who missed the 85-8 thrashing of Romania last Saturday with a calf strain.

But he came through Thursday's training session unscathed and, barring any adverse reaction, looked increasingly likely to play.

Carter said he understood the reasoning behind France's approach.

"The French really pride themselves on their lineout so for them to have a good kicking game may vary from what I think is a good kicking game where you mix it up. It's a fair move from them.

"But the players we've got back there play with flair and back their instincts and they will be looking to bring it back," added Carter ahead of a match that has assumed an arguably disproportionate level of importance in rugby-mad New Zealand where a nation hopes to see an end to a 20-year wait for a second World Cup title.

New Zealand's Fiji-born wing Joe Rokocoko, whose eight tries in seven Tests are the most anyone has scored against France, said it was vital his side trusted their instincts.

"We must play how we normally play but be smart at the same time. The game we lost against the Wallabies (20-15 in June) in Melbourne we kind of went into our shell in the last 10 minutes and started to play safe. That's not us."

All recent form indicates New Zealand should win. But that was exactly the case eight years ago when France turned the formbook upside down to beat the All Blacks 43-31 in a thrilling World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.

Somewhat less thrilling has been the extraordinary row over the issue of shirt colours leading up into Saturday's match.

France, who won the toss, chose to play in their home colour of blue. However, the shade presently in use is sufficiently dark to clash with the All Black jersey. New Zealand, whose away shirt used to be white, have a change strip of grey which also clashes with the France home kit.

The row was still unresolved well into Friday. If the match itself features such back and forth action it should be some game.