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Parra's shift only temporary

Auckland - Morgan Parra says he is happy with his reconversion from scrumhalf to flyhalf in the French starting line-up but admits it may only be a temporary measure.

The Clermont halfback started the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in competition for the No 9 shirt with Dimitri Yachvili.

But after the opening win over Japan, when coach Marc Lievremont was unhappy with the performance of flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc, Parra found himself in the role of chief playmaker for the match against the All Blacks.

That selection choice came in for much ridicule from the New Zealand press who claimed it proved he was sending out a 'B' team against the tournament favourites to ensure an easier path in the knockout stages.

France lost that game 37-17, but Parra played well enough at flyhalf to retain Lievremont's faith in him for Saturday's final pool game against Tonga in Wellington where the Six Nations side needs just one point to be sure of reaching the quarter-finals and a likely match-up with England.

The 22-year-old Parra, who made his debut for France in a Six Nations match against Scotland in February 2008, said he was happy to play for his country no matter where he was selected.

"You just have to remember that some players will be in the stands and some will not have the honour of preparing for this match all week long," he said.

"I not asking myself loads of questions. I am just trying to take it all in with pleasure and enthusiasm and work as hard as I did last week against New Zealand to be up for it against Tonga.

"I will try to do my best, but I have no pretentions in saying that I am the No 10 in the French team. I just want to be part of it all."

Parra will also play a key role for France as the team's kicker alongside Yachvili and he is aware that the team must avoid the defensive lapses that saw them ship three quick first half tries against the All Blacks after dominating the opening exchanges.

"The Tongans said it loud and clear after the match against New Zealand that they were out to beat France, that they wanted to reach the quarter-finals, that they felt they could do it," he said.

"They have got a lot of strong individual talents that allows them to produce some crazy rugby, but they can be structured as well.

"It's a team that we respect a lot."

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