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Wallabies wary as French promise all out attack

Roar Guru
3rd July, 2008
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The Wallabies are braced for a “nothing to lose” French onslaught with Les Bleus promising to put it all on the line in the second Test on Saturday night.

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French cult hero Sebastien Chabal has declared the visitors will throw the ball around and attack Australia in the hope of a season-ending upset at Suncorp Stadium.

Chabal said the French took great confidence out of finishing more strongly than the Wallabies in their 34-13 first Test loss in Sydney and warned they’d find their rhythm quicker this time.

“It’ll be even higher in intensity because we are going to attack more with the ball we get, take more initiatives,” the long-haired lock told French rugby website Rugbyrama.

“We were the ones attacking in the last 25 minutes (in Sydney). We imposed our rhythm even if we were very tired on the field. It’s a good sign for us.”

Wallabies inside centre Berrick Barnes said Australia had no doubts the fired-up tourists – with ball player Francois Trinh-Duc calling the shots at five-eighth – would be a far tougher opponent in Brisbane.

“You can bet your bottom dollar this French side will come out firing,” Barnes told AAP. “They have nothing to lose, they’ve got a holiday after this weekend.

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“They’ll put it all on the line, they’ll throw it around, they’ve got a lot of young kids so we have to be patient early and try to grind it out.”

Barnes felt the French posed plenty of threats in Sydney with their passing game and said it was vital Australia nullified their attack from the outset.

“We know that’s going to be coming,” he said. “They will look at the video and they will see with their off-loading they are able to put a few dints in us.

“It’s important that we aim up in defence and send them a message in those first 20 minutes.”

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