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!
Cadfael
Roar Guru
A bit hard on some of them. I agree with you on Phipps but there was no one else. Holmes was injured and the other Super 15 half is a Kiwi but I would have had a fit Genia on the bench than Phipps. Cummins isn't the fastest wing around but he is one of the most determined. I keep him there. Personally, I wouldn't let McCabe near the team. But our problem is that our wingers have either gone, injured or coming back from injuries.
JimmyB
Guest
Nor have you Albatross.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Note to Tane. We played England.
mikeylives
Guest
Foley and Carter had great games. "Folau didn’t have that much to do but he beat the man and had some lovely touches." Should have read: "Folau didn’t have that much to do but he scored a great try, set up two more and beat the man pretty much every time he touched the ball (and had some lovely touches)"
mikeylives
Guest
He was pretty much the standout player in the Hong Kong and Sydney Bledisloes in 2011. Quade is still a bloody amazing player when he chances his knee. On another note - Foley had a very good game last night,
JimmyB
Guest
Great post Cam, have you considered comedy as a career option? It's gotta be better than Macca's.
Squirrel
Guest
I thought both refs were excellent
TommyM
Roar Rookie
Sio was sick last week. Suspect he'll be on bench this week. TH is a real problem. Paul Alo-EMile or Laurie Weeks need an SOS call
DJW
Guest
I actually thought Joubert was excellent last night. I have been critical of him before but credit when credits due.
Sandy B
Guest
steve tuynman obscure? andrew leeds obscure? scotty gourlay, tommy bowman obscure?? what rock do you live under? when were you born?? 1999?
RobC
Roar Guru
Good call Anto. If Reds wont start him, then someone else might have to.
Rugby stu
Guest
Next game I would love to see Scott Sio and Paul Alo-Emile on the bench
Anto
Guest
Two words: Albert Anae. Guy's a rock.
Jerry
Guest
At the risk of being an "All Black fanboi" (and I love how you manage to cram that into a discussion of a match not involving NZ) Parra didn't retreat immediately. He stutter stepped, crabbed sideways and covered Kieran Read - all while offside - Read then passed and Parra (now onside) made the tackle. I actually think Michalak was offside as his front foot never got behind the offside line but it was much more marginal than Parra's offence.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
The comparison to D-Day... Did that really make sense to you, or did you just want to make a cheap and pathetic joke about the French surrendering? Because not all of them did.
deanp
Guest
But Parra did the same in the RWCF, he put himself back on side, yet Joubert still called a penalty. I've discussed this with the rampant AB fanbois who tell me that the penalty was justified because Parra being offside affected the play. Yet apparently the same does not apply to Michalack? I do not comprehend this.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
On the tv commentary he could clearly be heard explaining his reasoning: by the time of the impact of the tackle he had moved himself into a position where his feet were just behind the ruck. The commentators dsagreed but Joubert had the whistle and the advice from the video ref who agreed with him.
handles
Guest
Are you arguing with anyone in particular, or just throwing random comments around?
soapit
Guest
some links have trojans but most dont (or at least my anti virus only has picked it up occasionally). theres many options for links so stands to reason some will be good with some dodgy
deanp
Guest
Joubert is hopeless. Why didn't he ping Michalak for being offside like he did to Parra in the RWCF?