The little Napoleon has become a bottle blond since the World Cup, but the darling of French rugby won't be playing for the Tricolours when they meet Wales for the Six Nations championship in Cardiff this Saturday.

Frederic Michalak turned away from the security of a fat contract in France and the adoration of a nation to challenge himself in southern hemisphere rugby as the lynchpin of the Durban-based Sharks in the Super 14 tournament.

Beaten at the last breath by the Bulls' flying winger Bryan Habana in last year's final, the Sharks have won their four games in this season's tournament and the South African franchise could not be happier with their investment.

"Freddie" of the flying feet is not simply a brilliantly elusive attacking No.10, he is also a superb cover defending tackler, as was obvious when he floored Joe Rokocoko during the Sharks' 22-17 defeat of the Blues last weekend.

They loved him in France and it is clear a new love affair has flared in Durban, with the commentator remarking: "There's never a dull moment where Freddie Michalak is concerned."

Having lost their World Cup heroes, captain and hooker John Smit, goal-kicking fullback Percy Montgomery and crash-tackling five-eighth Butch James to the riches of Europe, the Sharks were desperate to find a new pivot, and they dug deep for Michalak.

He has not disappointed them.

Since Michalak took the helm of the side in the second round, the Sharks have beaten fellow South African teams, the Stormers and Bulls, and now the pride of Auckland, the Blues.

And when Test halfback Ruan Pienaar went off with a shoulder injury, on came Rory Kockott, a strong, resourceful half who kicks goals as simply as shelling peas.

During the World Cup in France, the stubbled, brooding face of Michalak, a 25-year-old veteran of 50 Tests, stared down from every street corner. But undoubtedly frustration set in for Michalak as coach Bernard Laporte juggled him between Lionel Beauxis, David Skrela and the reserves' bench. The Sharks' offer was an assurance that a starting position was his, whatever transpired later in events.

On Saturday, (Sunday morning, Sydney time) the Sharks meet the Lions in Johannesburg, invariably a ferocious affair. Undoubtedly, the Sharks supporter who began trumpeting a salute to Michalak with his French horn during the World Cup, will be at Ellis Park to greet him again.

Elsewhere, No.8 Nasi Manu and hooker Ti'i Paulo will make the first starts of their Super 14 careers after the unbeaten Crusaders made six changes to their team to face the Cheetahs in Christchurch on Saturday.

"We've had a tight turnaround this week, so it's an appropriate time to freshen the side up a little bit," Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said.