Saracens are close to reaching a financial settlement with the French Rugby Federation over the six-figure bill incurred for Thomas Castaignède's medical care and wages.

Castaignède was yesterday chosen at centre for France against South Africa on Saturday, two years after he ruptured his achilles tendon warming up before an international. Before his place in the side was confirmed he was taken to hospital for a scan on his achilles to make sure he had fully recovered from injury.

"We wanted to make sure that there was no further trouble between Saracens and the French federation," said the France manager Jo Maso.

Saracens did not have the power, or the desire, to prevent Castaignède playing on Saturday but they insisted that France took steps to ensure the player was properly insured.

· Brian O'Driscoll will take charge of a side for the first time in his senior career when Ireland play Australia in Dublin on Saturday.

France (v South Africa): Brusque; Clerc, Castaignède, Traille, Heymans; Gelez, Galthié (capt); Crenca, Ibanez, De Villiers, Brouzet, Pelous, Betsen, Magne, Harinordoquy. Replacements: Rue, Marconnet, Privat, Chabal, Yachvili, Mérceron, Garbajosa.

Ireland (v Australia): Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll (capt), Maggs, Kelly/Murphy/Hickie; O'Gara, Stringer; Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, Longwell, O'Kelly, Costello, Gleeson, Foley. Replacements: Sheahan, Wallace, Cullen, Quinlan, G Easterby, Humphreys.