Wallaby coach Eddie Jones says France's squad for its two-Test tour of Australia is one of is strongest-ever.

The 26-man squad, to be led by halfback Fabien Galthie, contains all but one of the players - prop Pieter de Villiers - that clinched France's Six Nations grand slam against Ireland in April.

Arnaud Martinez has taken de Villiers' place on the tour, and is one of only two uncapped players - along with flanker Christophe Porcu - in the squad to tour Argentina and Australia.

"It's a very strong squad by the looks of it," Jones said. "There's not too many players missing from their Six Nation squad and it's probably one of the strongest French squads to tour for a long time.

"They still retain their traditional flair, but what they've been able to add to that is discipline. They are one of the most disciplined sides in the world at the moment."

Galthie, who has played 49 times for France, is one of only four players left from the 15 that started the World Cup final against Australia three years ago in Cardiff, with lock Fabien Pelous, hooker Raphael Ibanez and flanker Olivier Magne the others.

Galthie hasn't played since the end of April because of problems with his fitness, but Jones is more than aware that the French captain is one of Australia's major worries in the series.

"Galthie is an outstanding player, he runs a game extremely well and the two centres Damien Traille and Tony Marsh have probably been their form players in the Six Nations," Jones said.

"Magne and (Serge) Betsen were probably close to being the outstanding flankers in the Six Nations."

The Wallabies begin their international campaign against New Zealand Maori in Perth on June 15, before battling France at Colonial Stadium in Melbourne on June 22 and Sydney on June 29.

"We're only going to have seven days preparation for the Maori game and then five days to the first Test against France, so it's a good test to see where we are, particularly in terms of our forward play," Jones said.

"These are the sort of games we need to have at this stage of our preparation moving towards the (2003) World Cup."

Meanwhile Waratah David Lyons says even though he has been chosen to play for Australia A against Canada on Saturday night at Parramatta Stadium at openside flanker, he doesn't think that means he has a better chance of playing for the Wallabies in that position than at No.8, where he plays for NSW.

With Reds No.8 Toutai Kefu considered a certainty to be chosen in the Wallabies team, Lyons has his chance to impress in an attempt to replace incumbents George Smith and Phil Waugh, who he rates highly.

"They've both had great seasons so a lot of things don't support that ... I think they've both got a lot of value in the game. Everyone in the current Wallabies side are all great players. I just look at this as an opportunity to expand my own game more than anything," Lyons said.

While Lyons hasn't played at openside flanker since his school days, he plans to retain the same hard-running game that has won him four Test caps.

"He's a big, strong, athletic bloke, we want to see how he goes," Jones said. "We know he (Lyons) can play 6 (blindside) and 8, so we're keen to see if he can handle the 7 position."

A former Australian schools captain, Lyons has also been given the honour of Australia A vice-captain: "It was a bit of a shock, and an honour to have that bit of extra responsibility. It would be a great honour to one day captain NSW," he said.

France squad: Jean Jacques Crenca, Arnaud Martinez, Jean Baptiste Poux, Sylvain Marconnet, Raphael Ibanez, Olivier Azam, Olivier Brouzet, Fabien Pelous, Christophe Porcu, Sebastien Chabal, Imanol Harrinordoquy, Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen, Christian Labit, Fabien Galthie (capt), Pierre Mignoni, Gerald Merceron, Francois Gelez, Aurelien Rougerie, David Bory, Nicolas Brusque, Tony Marsh, Damien Traille, Clement Poitrenaud, Pepito Elhorga, Nicholas Jeanjean.