Preview: Australia v France

 

None of Les Bleus will fear the Wallabies, however, after they embarrassed them in 2012, in the scrums and elsewhere, to win 33-6 in Paris the last time they played.

 

This time around the Wallabies will be targeting a 3-0 home series outcome as they had against Wales in 2012, but each Test was a close run thing and this series could be the same.

 

French coach Philippe Saint-André has given the Wallabies a significant advantage for the first test.

 

He has rested all the players who appeared in the Top 14 Final last weekend, except for a couple of backs on the bench.

 

Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Nyanga, who have played only a few hours between them since they were injured early in 2014, are also included in the squad.

 

Some of his squad haven't played since the end of the regular season at the beginning of May and are rusty already.

 

McKenzie had to make tough decisions on his matchday team. 

 

It was a wrench for him to drop improving scrumhalf Will Genia from the 23, but Nic White and Nick Phipps had been playing well for longer, and it was better to start White against France than against the All Blacks or Springboks.

 

Foley was nominated as flyhalf and Matt Toomua, inside centre. Toomua played well at No.10 for the Brumbies, but was outstanding in the 12 jersey for the Wallabies on their 2013 End of Year tour before he was injured.

 

Foley, only recently earning his test debut when he came on against Argentina to score a try and add two conversions, is clearly proud to wear the Gold jersey.

 

"The debut was something very special, to wear [the jersey] for the first time you always remember it," he said.

 

"And that day was pretty magical in how it unfolded – to be able to get on and make an impact. 

 

"It wasn't as pressure-cooker an environment either, the guys had already sewn up the match, so I was able to just enjoy the occasion and the experience of it more."

 

Saturday against France will be something else entirely. A home crowd, a kick-off to navigate and a Test match to control from the get-go.

 

"It lifts up to another level of intensity but the fundamentals don't change and for me it's a great exciting challenge, calling the shots a bit for the national side, and something you dream of," Foley said.

 

"Hopefully I don't let the occasion overwhelm me, it's just back down to business."

 

 

For Australia: Israel Folau is a danger man every time he takes to the field, his performances last year against the British and Irish Lions cemented him as one of the most devastating attacking players in world rugby. His Super Rugby form for the Waratahs has been sensational as he sits a top the top try-scorers list. Kurtley Beale is another one to watch with his over-all play making skills something to behold, it is sure to be exciting when these two link up on the pitch.

 

For France: Gael Fickou and Wesley Fofana, the French centres, are world class players in their own rights. Much more fleet-footed than the likes of Mathieu Bastareaud. Whenever Frédéric Michalak is on the park he is one to watch, things can go brilliantly for the little magician or they can crumble around him, it all depends on how he feels on the day.

 

Head to Head: The front rows – Thomas Domingo is only 178 cm's tall and will naturally shove up against Kepu and Ryan who are 15 cm's taller, and he will drive in as well. It wont be so bad for James Slipper and Cowan against Nicolas Mas, but both of the French starting props and Hooker Guilhem Guirado are known for squeezing the opposing hooker.

The centres – One of the strengths of the France squad is their midfield. Although Lamerat will be on the bench, and Mathieu Bastareaud won’t be playing at all, their most athletic and elusive centres, Wesley Fofana and Gaël Fickou, will be running on.

Toomua and Kuridrani are different players to the French centres. Toomua will be like a second flyhalf and will scan the geometry of the field and the distribution of players on it, both theirs and his, whereas Fofana will be looking to the main chance for himself or his immediate neighbour.

 

2012 France won 33-6, Paris

2010 Australia won 59-16, Paris

2009 Australia won 22-6, Sydney

2008 Australia won 18-13, Paris

2008 Australia won 40-10, Brisbane

2008 Australia won 34-13, Sydney

2005 France won 26-16, Marseille

2005 Australia won 37-31, Brisbane

2004 France won 27-14, Paris

2002 Australia won 31-25, Sydney

 

Prediction: France toured New Zealand last year and played their best game first-up before fading away in the other two. This year their team will be stronger in the second and third tests than in Brisbane. The last time these two played Australia got thrashed but this time around it should be a different story, this French test team should not be able to do the same thing to them. Wallabies by 12.

 

 

 

France: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Yohann Huget, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Felix Le Bourhis, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud; 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas (captain), 2 Guilhelm Guirado, 1 Thomas Domingo. 

Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Alexandre Flanquart, 20 Antoine Burban, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Remi Lamerat, 23 Brice Dulin.

 

Date: Saturday, June 7

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40 GMT; 11.40 French time)

Expected weather: It should be great conditions for rugby, as it will be mostly sunny and mild, with a high of 24°C and a low of 13°C. There will be a gentle (14 km/h) breeze blowing in a SSE direction.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)