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Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
France vs Australia |
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|---|---|---|
Rugby International, 19 Nov 2016 |
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| Stade de France, Paris | ||
| France | Australia | |
| 23 | SCORE | 25 |
| 3 | Tries | 3 |
| 1 | Conversions | 2 |
| 2 | Penalty goals | 2 |
| 0 | Drop goals | 0 |
Australia has won a thriller in Paris, holding on for a 25-23 win under extreme pressure.
All the wash-up from France vs Wallabies:
» Match report: Wallabies outlast France
» Diggercane’s talking points
» Brent Ford’s talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make for Ireland?
» Vote on our DIY player ratings
» WATCH the highlights from the match
Final score
France 23
Australia 25
The Wallabies will complete the next leg of their Spring Tour with a trip to the continent to face the French at Stade de France. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting from 7am (AEDT).
With the Wallabies half way towards their quest for a grand slam against the home nations, speculation about selection of the side for this week’s interlude against France was answered in emphatic fashion by Michael Cheika, naming a side with 11 changes from the team that squeaked home against Scotland.
Cheika was at pains to stress that no gold jerseys are being handed out cheaply, and his side backs this up. Many of the inclusions are experienced Test players in their own right, or else promising contenders which many fans have been clamouring to see.
It is an impressive statement supporting Australia’s growing player depth.
With Stephen Moore to start from the bench, David Pocock, for the first time since 2012, takes the reigns as skipper; coinciding with a return to the open-side No.7 role. The loose forward trio is completed by the returning Sean McMahon at No.8, and Scott Fardy to blindside flanker, with Lopeti Timani in reserve to add the second half finishing punch Cheika demands from his bench.
Other notable selections include a start for Allan Ala’alatoa, the resurrection of Quade Cooper at fly-half, the debut of Kyle Godwin at inside centre, and opportunities for Sefa Naivalu and Luke Morahan in the back three.
With fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc breaking his arm last week against Samoa, French coach Guy Noves has controversially selected Toulouse halfback Jean-Marc Doussain to replace him; the practice of playing twin No.9s not uncommon in French rugby.
Noves has matched Cheika by selecting two Fijian wingers, Noa Nakaitaci and Virimi Vakatawa; no doubt prompting stats nerds to scour the archives for examples of four Fijian wingers marking off against each other (five if Taqele Naiyaravoro takes the field), in a Test match not involving Fiji.
No doubt eligibility crusader World Rugby Vice President Gus Pichot will be looking on as uncomfortably as Fiji coach John McKee will be watching ruefully. Fans from both sides however are likely to be more interested in the Fijian flyers getting plenty of ball and lighting up the Paris turf.
Up front, there are question marks over the French scrummaging, although they will take inspiration from ‘the Maestro’ Yoann Maestri, playing his 50th test.
As always, it’s difficult to know which France will turn up on the day, but there is plenty of talk around that there were lines in the sand drawn after their World Cup quarter-final humiliation, and that this is a new group, determined to play attractive and winning rugby.
Certainly last week’s match against Samoa supports this; an obvious attitude to move the ball around being rewarded with seven tries. Knowing that Australia won’t allow them the same latitude this week however, it will be fascinating to see if France adopts the same approach, or rejigs their attacking strategy.
With two-thirds of a new team installed, not much can be drawn from Australia’s last two outings. But there is strength in key positions, Will Genia and Quade Cooper will be delighted to be starting together, and there are a number of players looking to prove themselves and earn more starting opportunities.
The Wallabies also hold the ace card in Pocock, and I suspect his turnover ability will prove a key point of difference; enough to get Australia home by 5.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting from 7am (AEDT).