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The Wallabies take on France in the first Test match of the year in Brisbane tonight. Join us here on The Roar for live scores, commentary and banter from 8pm AEST.
After a few months of supporting our tribes in Super Rugby the time has come for everyone to get behind Australia in the first Test window of the year. A three-test series against France is always a good prospect, with unpredictable play combined with some size and verve the likely outcome.
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie’s first team selection of 2014 includes a debutant in Sam Carter, who has been part of the engine room in a Brumbies pack that has ground through many tough sides over the last 24 months. He is going to provide some work rate and will pair Rob Simmons, the lineout caller.
Watch live on TEN with expert commentators Gordon Bray and Matt Burke
The front row selected is James Slipper, Stephen Moore and Sekope Kepu. Slipper is at loose-head prop where many felt Scott Sio deserved a shot, while Kepu has been playing off the bench regularly with the Waratahs this year.
Moore is the rock, and has been rewarded with captaincy for this series. He’ll be holding together a front row that will come under some scrutiny tonight.
The backline is much the same as the one that completed the Northern Hemisphere tour last year, a vote in the direction of continuity by McKenzie. The change is Bernard Foley, the distributor and straightener of the attack, selected in place of the injured Quade Cooper and Nic White getting the nod over Will Genia on form, who isn’t in the 23.
France will be missing their captain, Thierry Dusautior for the match as coach Phillepe Saint-Andre opted to give him more recovery time from a bicep injury. He may join the team next week. He is replaced by Bernard Le Roux in the back row and the new captain is prop Nicolas Mas.
The other huge omission is Louis Picamoles not packing down at the back of the scrum. He caused all kinds of grief with his unique blend of power and skill last time these two sides met.
As it stands the Australian back row of Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper and Wycliff Palu have been given a huge favour and should now be able to gain more ascendancy than if the French leaders had been playing.
Also a bit of a shock is the selection of Felix Le Bourhis on his debut instead of Maxime Medard. Medard is one of the underrated wingers in world rugby, with more tricks in his bag than it appears at first glance.
Frederic Michalak, who jetted into the country on Tuesday, is going to start at fly-half for this match despite not having played in four weeks.
So there are some weaknesses to this French side. But you always get the feeling the next man up for France is the dangerous one; the unknown quantity and the bursting desire to do well for their nation can sometimes produce explosive results.
The Wallabies should win this match and need to show some progression after last season started rockily. Their scrum will come under pressure and will be avoided with the preference to let Simmons win lineouts and continuous phase-play be the aim after that.
The first Test of the year is always a great occasion with the sense of hope and moving into the unknown. So don’t miss out, log on here from 8pm for score updates, live commentary and a chance to have your own say!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.