PARIS (AFP) - Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir is to take over as captain of France from Lionel Nallet, coach Marc Lievremont told AFP in an interview on Monday.

The 27-year-old Ivory Coast-born player stood in for the injured Nallet during the the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand and impressed in the way he handled the job.

"We are in a crucial period at the moment with a squad that is well established, which is competitive, and which is gradually building up for the World Cup of 2011," said Lievremont.

"Thierry has the experience now to fully take on the reponsibilities of the captaincy."

Dusautoir won the first of his 25 caps in the 62-14 win over Romania in June, 2006 and then won a last-minute call-up into the French squad for the 2007 World Cup to replace the injured Elvis Vermeulen.

He was outstanding during that tournament as the French, on home turf, made it through to the semi-finals before losing to England in Paris.

"The determining factor has been Thierry's rise in power over the last two years," Lievremont said.

"We're heading little by little towards the 2011 World Cup and Thierry today has the standing to assume this job."

Lievremont said that Nallet, who now plays for Paris side Racing Metro, had done nothing wrong to lose the captaincy and that the 33-year-old lock would be given a key role as backup to Dusautoir.

"It wasn't an easy decision to make. Lionel raised the bar as a player, notably during the first year when he was massive, but also as captain when he was irreproachable," the coach said.

Dusautoir will be captain of France for the Test matches against South Africa in Toulouse on November 13, Samoa on November 21 at the Stade de France and New Zealand a week later in Marseille.

Lievremont said the first Test against the Springboks, reigning world and Tri-Nations champions who also beat the British and Irish Lions in the summer, would be a tough call.

"It will not be simple," he said. "South Africa have a great team that leaves little place to opponents at all levels.

"They put an enormous level of intensity into their game, not necessarily in possession of the ball but they know how to put their opponents under pressure all over the park, especially in the line-outs.

"They have an exceptional kicking game and a well organised defence: they are all characteristics of the modern game of rugby and the new rules will play to their type of rugby.

Samoa, Lievremont added, would be no pushover.

"They have some fantastic individual qualities. They have some players who play in our championships.

"They are very hard-hitting and very athletic. One of their weaknesses is tied to their organisation: their players are spread out around the world and they struggle to get together."

France beat the All Blacks 27-22 in the first test on summer tour with the home side claiming a narrow 14-10 win in the second rubber but still going on to lose the Dave Gallagher Trophy on points difference.

"New Zealand will be a massive challenge for us, especially since we won the Test series on their soil this summer," Lievremont said.