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Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir is to take over as captain of France from Lionel Nallet, coach Marc Lievremont told AFP.

The 27-year-old Ivory Coast-born player (pictured) 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 callup 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.

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 role as a key backup to Lievremont.

Dusautoir will be captain of France for the November Test matches against South Africa, Samoa and New Zealand.

AFP