By Bryn Palmer BBC Sport Online

Wendell Sailor's Wallabies career may be only three matches old, but the rugby league convert is starting to find his feet at Test level.

Australia's high-profile union recruit showed signs that he can be the real deal with a promising display against France on Saturday.

Wallabies edge France

And he began to justify the swift elevation into the world champions' ranks that has left several distinguished names up-in-arms.

The former Brisbane Broncos star has been the subject of vehement criticism from the likes of Wallaby legend David Campese.

Campese won a record 101 Wallaby caps

Campese argued that other players such as Andrew Walker deserved a place ahead of Sailor, and that the Queensland recruit had been given a 'red-carpet ride' to Test selection.

But Sailor provided evidence at Sydney's Olympic Stadium of why the Australian Rugby Union paid a reputed A$750,000 (�500,000) to lure the former Kangaroo to the 15-man code.

The wing managed just two tries for the Reds in this year's Super 12 series, but he was quick off the mark on his Australian debut against the New Zealand Maori two weeks ago.

Early on in Sydney however, it was his defence that impressed with half-a-dozen thundering tackles in the opening 15 minutes.

The last of them, on his opposite number Pepito Elhorga, was of such bone-crushing intensity that the Frenchman was forced off clutching his ribs.

But Sailor's attacking potential became apparent with a barnstorming 50-metre run out of defence in the 17th minute.

The wing turned on the power as he handed off French flanker Serge Betsen and swerved away from Nicolas Brusque's attempted tackle before finally being hauled down by Elhorga's replacement Cedric Heymans.

Sailor was a threat to the French defence

The rough edges to his game remained in evidence though.

Sailor followed up one great tackle by leaving his hands in the ruck before he had got to his feet, conceding a penalty in the process.

He then had a chance to send Chris Latham charging into space but the pass failed to find his full-back.

A half-chance then opened up briefly for Sailor on the outside but slight hesitation allowed Betsen to snag him as the gap disappeared.

Sailor was at fault after 46 minutes as he allowed Olivier Magne to slip out of his tackle out wide and set up the move that led to a French try for Sylvain Marconnet.

But he was unfortunate to be pulled up a minute later when charging onto a pass into space from fellow rugby league convert Mat Rogers, which was incorrectly ruled forward.

Lomu comparisons

Sailor played his part in sending Daniel Herbert over for the try that drew Australia level though, drawing the remaining cover in before creating space for his centre on the outside.

And he might have got on the scoresheet himself but for a momentary hesitation as another Rogers pass reached him, rather than instinctively moving onto the ball in the mould of a classic winger.