The Wallabies caravan moved on to Paris and after a another cliffhanger against Scotland, would have been glad to get out of town with their Grand Slam hopes intact.
The form
France
Under new coach Guy Noves they won their first two games in Six Nations this year but by a total margin of only three points. They lost the remainder, and their first test of their summer tour of Argentina, but thrashed Los Pumas in the second.
They’ve have three weeks together now and were impressive trouncing the tough Samoans last Saturday in their first test match of the season, scoring seven tries to one. Some of their players were in sparkling attacking form and their defensive line was well-spaced and set early.
Les Bleues played with a good tempo, tried some quick lineouts and attempted to run the ball out of their own half as in their good old days.
Wallabies – won at Murrayfield and got out of town
Australia
Home supporters were confounded by the decline of the Wallabies after the Rugby World Cup final as they saw them thrashed by the Poms and Kiwis, who both played at a higher level. Getting the silver in The Rugby Championship ahead of the Boks and Pumas was scant consolation.
The Wallabies started their November tour with a victory in Cardiff, facing the poorest Wales’ performance in years. They crossed the line five times to one but left the corpses of some murdered tries on the park. Last week they escaped against Scotland the Brave after taking the lead for the first time with only four minutes remaining.
The big plus so far on tour has been the number of chances created. In Cardiff the forwards breached the tackle line regularly, but could not do so against feisty Scotland. Their never-give-up attitude at Murrayfield was also commendable, and enabled them to win at the end despite a shocking infringement in the 68th minute which left them with 14 men at the critical time.
The ensemble play of the backs on tour has stunned opponents at times but handling errors and trying too hard, instead of going to ground, has limited their scoring. And last week they surrendered a try from a missed tackle that looked routine, and another from a a simple latch run near their goal-line.
Noa Nakaitaki – back in the team
Team news
France
France hasn’t made many changes. Yoann Huget is dropped and replaced by form Clermont winger Noa Nakaitaci, who will play on the other side of the field from distant cousin Virimi Vakatawa.
Hybrid 9/10 Jean-Marc Doussain replaces flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc who broke his arm last week. Noves may have thought about starting with flyhalf specialist Camile Lopez, because that would have given him a Clermont combination at 10, 12 and 13.
Jefferson Poirot, is replaced by inexperienced Toulouse loose head prop Cyril Baille, who made his debut when he came off the bench last week for the injured Poirot.
Australia
As expected with a six match tour, the Wallabies have made sweeping changes in their team for this match. Only four players retain their starting roles: Tevita Kuridrani, Henry Speight, Will Genia, and David Pocock, who will captain the side.
Luke Morahan, Tolu Latu, Allan Ala’alatoa and Sefanaia Naivalu will start in a test match for the first time, as will Kyle Godwin, who will play in his first test.
This may seem to disparage France, who beat them last time they met, but it is an opportunity to use alternative players as part of succession planning. It also allows key players like Sekope Kepu, Michael Hooper and Israel Folau to have a week off.
Key players and match-ups
Virimi Vakatawa v Sefanaia Naivalu
Sevens’ player Vakatawa scored a hat-trick against Samoa. You couldn’t pick that from his club form because he is contracted to the FFR, the national Union, and hasn’t played for a club since 2013, nor XVs since March, in Six Nations.
He can beat opponents for pace to score, or get around them, or run through them. Sefanaia Naivalu will have to make good decisions marking this guy and is going to have his hands full.
The centres
Inside centre Wesley Fofana has been one of the best midfielders in the world in recent times but his talent has not been fully recognised. He’s fast, offloads smoothly, is rugby smart, uses his feet, and thinks ahead, but his skills have been stifled by stodgy game plans and playing with the likes of crash-baller Mathieu Bastareaud. Noves even had Fofana playing on the wing in Six Nations this year.
Vakatawa trailing the mercurial Fofana
Fofana is now paired with new Clermont team-mate Remi Lamerat and they combined well against Samoa and helped Vakatawa to prosper also.
New Aussie inside centre Kyle Godwin is a good tackler, but defending (a more comprehensive activity) against Fofana in a test match will be the biggest assignment he has ever had. And Tevita Kurindrani will have to do a better job against Remi Lamerat than he did covering Huw Jones last week, should they lock horns
The scrums
We will find out how well the Aussie loose head props James Slipper and Scott Sio are scrummaging because the France tight head props present challenges. Uini Atonio is massive and hard to shift whereas reserve Rabah Slimani is more technical and will engage straight, then drive for Tolu Latu or Stephen Moore and try to lift them.
On paper Allan Ala’alatoa and Tomas Robertson should have a more comfortable time against loose head props Cyrill Baillie and Xavier Chiocci.
Hooker Tolu Latu – has to watch out for Rabah Slimani
Prediction
I agree with the decision to rest most of the starting team and had this group of Aussies played together a couple of times, I would give them a chance. But France played well last week, even making allowances for Samoa being outclassed in personnel.
France by 15
Team lists & details
[one_third last=”no”]
France
1. Cyril Baille
2. Guilhem Guirado (c)
3. Uini Atonio
4. Sebastien Vahaamahina
5. Yoann Maestri
6. Charles Ollivon
7. Kevin Gourdon
8. Louis Picamoles
9. Maxime Machenaud
10. Jean-Marc Doussain
11. Virimi Vakatawa
12. Wesley Fofana
13. Remi Lamerat
14. Noa Nakaitaci
15. Scott Spedding
Reserves:
16. Camille Chat
17. Xavier Chiocci
18. Rabah Slimani
19. Julien Le Devedec
20. Damien Chouly
21. Baptiste Serin
22. Camille Lopez
23. Gael Fickou
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
Australia
1. James Slipper
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala’alatoa
4. Kane Douglas
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock (c)
8. Sean McMahon
9. Will Genia
10. Quade Cooper
11. Henry Speight
12. Kyle Godwin
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Sefanaia Naivalu
15. Luke Morahan
Reserves (one to be omitted):
16. Stephen Moore
17. Scott Sio
18. Tomas Robertson
19. Will Skelton
20. Dean Mumm
21. Lopeti Timani
22. Nick Phipps
23. Bernard Foley
24. Taqele Naiyaravoro
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
Details
Date: Saturday, November 12th
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT, 07:00 AEDT (Sun)
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)[/one_third]
