Australia have made three changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Test against France in Paris.

They all come in the forwards as coach Robbie Deans breaks up a pack that performed so well in the 28-14 win over England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Prop Ben Alexander replaces Benn Robinson to earn his third cap while Dean Mumm comes into the back row, pushing Hugh McMeniman - who started as a flanker against England - into the second row instead of Mark Chisholm.

Wycliff Palu is recalled at No.8 in place of Richard Brown, who injured his knee at the weekend and is ruled out of the clash at the Stade de France. Palu returns to the starting line-up for the first time since injuring the medial ligament in his knee against New Zealand in Brisbane in September.

Deans keeps his back line unchanged as the Kiwi looks to guide his team to a third successive win on their autumn tour. A week before the victory over the English, the Wallabies defeated Italy 30-20. Wing Lote Tuqiri does not make the matchday squad as he continues his recovery from a knee operation.

An under-strength France squad toured Australia over the summer, losing Tests in Sydney (34-13) and Brisbane (40-10).

But Les Bleus head coach Marc Lievremont has close to a full-strength team at his disposal this weekend and Australia lock Nathan Sharpe is anticipating a battle in the French capital.

"It's a big challenge for us as a team, trying to beat France away from home" said the Western Force second-row forward. "We'll have to play as a team and to the best of our ability. It's up to us to transfer the performance of last week to this weekend. France are always dangerous and playing a full-on France is going to be a tough challenge for us."

Skipper Stirling Mortlock will this weekend play his 75th Test, and will be tied with Jason Little as the 10th most-capped Wallaby in history. Australia's tour will conclude with a Test against Wales in Cardiff a week on Saturday and a specially-arranged midweek game against the Barbarians at Wembley on December 3.

Historical Notes -

This is the 39th Test between teams representing Australia and France, dating back to the inaugural meeting between a touring New South Wales side and France in Paris in 1928, which the visiting side won 11-8. This match was awarded Test status by the ARU. In total, Australia has won 20 matches and France 16, with two previous draws.

Nineteen Tests have been played between the two nations on French soil with France having won 12 to Australia's six, while one was drawn.

France has won the last three clashes on home soil, with Australia's last success an 18-13 win at Paris in 2000. The most recent match between the two teams - at Brisbane in July - saw Australia record its highest winning margin against a French side, in posting a 40-10 victory.

To celebrate the bi-centenaries of Australia and France in 1988 and 1989 respectively, the French Rugby Union donated the Trophée des Bicentenaries to be played in perpetuity between the two countries. The trophy is a bronze sculpture featuring two players in a tackle. Although the trophy dates from 1988, it was first contested in 1989. Australia won the Trophée des Bicentenaries in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002 and earlier this year.

The record for the most tries by an Australian player in a Test against France is two. It is shared by six players - including Stirling Mortlock and Ryan Cross, who will both feature again in Saturday's contest. Cross scored his double during the Brisbane Test earlier in the year. Only David Campese (with five) has scored more tries for Australia against France than Mortlock, who has three. Flanker George Smith will tie George Gregan and David Campese for the second most Tests played by a Wallaby against France, by earning his 10th cap.

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies); Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, capt), Drew Mitchell (Western Force); Matt Giteau (Western Force), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs); Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds), Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), George Smith (Brumbies), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs).

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds).