UPDATE 1-Rugby-France make wholesale changes to play Australia

* France make seven changes to play Australia

* Changes force backline reshuffle

(Adds quotes)

SYDNEY, June 24 (Reuters) - A mounting casualty list and the prospect of a third gruelling match in as many weeks has prompted France to make wholesale changes to their side for Saturday's one-off test against Australia at Sydney's Olympic stadium.

Five French players have already been sent home after suffering injuries in the drawn two-test series against New Zealand, forcing the selectors to choose a new look side to play the Wallabies.

Coach Marc Lievremont on Wednesday announced seven personnel changes to the starting side for the match as well as positional changes in the backline but delayed picking his bench until Friday.

Flyhalf Lionel Beauxis replaced Francois Trinh-Duc and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili was called in for Julien Dupuy in a new halves combination.

"For two years we've been looking for a number nine and a number 10," Lievremont told reporters. "It's been very difficult to find one so that's why we used several number 10s and number nines.

"Nothing has been decided yet. Even after this tour we are not sure we have found our two players."

Florian Fritz was promoted to start at outside centre with wing Vincent Clerc dropping out of the starting side, prompting a reshuffle of the outside backs.

Damien Traille moved from inside centre to fullback, Maxime Medard switched from fullback to wing and Maxime Mermoz changed from outside centre to inside centre.

Julien Puricelli replaced the injured Louis Picamoles at number eight while lock Pascal Pape was called in for Sebastien Chabal, who was sidelined with a calf problem.

The experienced Sylvain Marconnet was named at tighthead prop for Nicolas Mas while his Stade Francais team mate Dimitri Szarzewski replaced William Servat at hooker.

Australia have named a full-strength team for the match after fielding an experimental side against Italy last weekend.

Assistant coach Richard Graham said he was not surprised the French had opted for fresh troops.

"The season finished two weeks ago for a lot of them, they've flown to New Zealand, obviously they've had a tough two weeks there," he told reporters.

"(Lievremont's) got a very experienced squad and he probably feels this is his freshest squad and his best chance to beat Australia."

France - 15-Damien Traille, 14-Maxime Medard, 13-Florian Fritz, 12-Maxime Mermoz, 11-Cedric Heymans, 10-Lionel Beauxis, 9-Dimitri Yachvili, 8-Julien Puricelli, 7-Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6-Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5-Romain Millo-Chluski, 4-Pascal Pape, 3-Sylvain Marconnet, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 1-Fabien Barcella. (Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Greg Stutchbury/N. Ananthanarayanan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)