The Wallabies look set to play a crucial midweek game against a French Barbarians team as the ranks of Australian debutants swell to double digits this year.

The Australian Rugby Union have managed to strike a deal with their French counterparts to play a Thursday tour match at Stade Chaban-Delmas in Bordeaux in the week leading into the Ireland Test.

It is a big boost for Michael Cheika's plans to use the spring tour as a development exercise as much as an audacious attempt to bag the Grand Slam, which hasn't been achieved by an Australian team since 1984.

Rebels speedster Sefa Naivalu became the 900th player to pull on the gold jersey ahead of the Wallabies' disappointing 18-10 loss to the Springboks on Saturday and the 10th player to debut in just eight Tests this season.