Stunned by the Wallabies in last Saturday’s opening Test, France halfback Morgan Parra says the tourists are planning a Melbourne revenge mission this weekend.
Parra says Les Bleus were caught out by Australia’s superior physicality, speed and execution and had not expected the hosts to be as good as they were in the 50-23 defeat in Brisbane.
The tourists will be boosted by the inclusion of several players who sat out the opening Test, including inspirational captain Thierry Dusautoir, playmaker Remi Tales, giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud, winger Maxime Medard and rampaging No.8 Louis Picamoles.
Parra played a cameo off the bench at Suncorp Stadium, scoring one try and setting up another in the dying minutes, and he says the French are keen to prove their first Test display was just an aberration.
“They surprised us in terms of the intensity of the game and the pace of the game, the speed of the passing,” Parra told AAP.
“It’s two things. I don’t think mentally we were expecting that kind of intensity from the first Test so now we are aware of it.
“The second thing is when you get 50 points against you … you just want to get a bit of revenge from the score the previous weekend.”
Parra says France’s missing stars would probably have made little difference to the result given Australia’s performance but he does believe having so many top quality players available will be a huge boost for the tourists.
“I’m not sure even if you’d put 15 or 20 other players in the line up the other week you would have changed much. Australia’s performance was just great,” he said.
“Everyone is important. It’s not because one or another come in that you will change the strategy of the team but it’s true that when you’ve got Mathieu Bastareaud in midfield it’s helping some other player from the forwards.”
Jack
Guest
@Dru, It's not. England have by a massive stretch the largest pool of Rugby players in the world. So it holds true for them there too.
Squirrel
Guest
The French will win this one . The side for Oz is much weaker while the French are much stronger. The French would be embarrassed , will make it a decider. Can't wait was fascinated though and shocked how well Eng and Oz have improvef
Dru
Guest
And it hasn't stopped the occassional selection problem for England. The topic comes up frequently among English fans. (talking football not Rugby if it isn't obvious.)
PiratesRugby
Guest
With Basteraud returning to the centres, I think I can see why Link has Hooper playing so wide. It didn't make any sense in Brisbane because the Wallabies had so much firepower in the back that a fast forward really did not add anything. Either that or Hooper gets away with playing much wider than Higgers ever does and doesn't cop half the criticism.
Scrumpoacher
Guest
Dude they have millions playing the game, rugby isn't in that position.
Rotuma Island.
Guest
Charles also on the bench.
Rotuma Island.
Guest
The Wallabies Team has been picked, no Sio, no Skelton n no Genia. McCalman @ #8 n Horwill starting. Higginbotham, Weeks n Jones on the bench.
warastew
Guest
After the intercept attempt going straight into the arms of the waiting WB backline for a try ... and the fumbling attempt to ground the ball leading to another try ... I was left wondering if Peter Sellers was a member of the French Team! Is Melbourne going to be the Pink Panther 2!
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Jourbet is so dodgy making up his own rules ref bias is out of control -any match starring jourbet or owens for starters screams of a fix of some kind or other
MARTO
Guest
Yes a good effort barring the last 8 minutes when the french decided to re engage in the war after having surrendered for about 65 minutes (they were woeful for a long period of time). And I am sorry but 50-23 is not the true indication of the wallabies performance, at 50-9 I was ok with it. I am not a fan of making replacements for the sake of it - once McKenzie changed about 3 or 4 at the same time we lost some momentum, started missing a few tackles and that last scrum (very ordinary). Question: When are referees going to work out that the attacking team do not pull the scrum down with the feed - 5 metres out. ??????? Highlight of the night (not) - listening to the ref in the box (who was absolutely clueless and had to agree with Joubert after watching every play on the big screen made his own conclusion anyway). Didn't notice Palu doing anything out of the ordinary.
Garth
Guest
And the referee for Melbourne will be ....... Wayne Barnes.
Johnno
Guest
PSA will get sacked after this tour, he was almost done after the 6 nations. His replacement i hope is better. France will still be a danger team next RWC just have a gut feel, alot of playing depth. In Europe will be much stronger than end of season tour of SH.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree to some extent johnno, a nation can be competitive internationally AND have many imports in their domestic league...provided their best players have game time in top teams in the domestic league or abroad. Problem with French rugby is that we import a lot but do not export our best talents, which means our good young players are either on the bench or in bottom top 14 teams or even in prod d2. Having Ibra, Tiago Silva or Falcao isn't bad for the NT as Benzema or Ribery play in other top euro clubs. Problem with rugby is that most of our young player are not good enough to play in the best UK teams (SH isn't an option as its a closed market) and/or make more money on the bench or 2nd div teams. Perso I do think the success of the top 14 with so many foreigners has a negative impact on the national team but not as big as PSA himself. Plus we just aren't this type of nation who plays all tests at 100% of their abilities, has always been will always be. Have to live with that and accept at the moment we are outside the top 6 rugby nations in the world.
Johnno
Guest
Spain is a top soccer nation as is Italy and Germany loads of foreigners in there comps same with French soccer.
Chris Murray
Guest
Pretty reasonable statement from Parra (what an unfortunate name!) about France's feelings and intentions. WBs will be aware of what's coming and do have the ammunition if they play the same way in attack and defence. The game will be harder but the WBs will be better for the run. The 9/10/12 combination will have picked up a lot of confidence and the back 4 are already strong together. Carter played well but Moore is probably the bigger loss
@Scrumpoacher
Guest
TD LP and MB will make a difference but we will kill them again. It shows what a load of foreign players in your league will do for the quality of the national squad. Sure they haven't won here for ages, but the effect of foreign mercenaries in the T14 is being felt. Now if only the Kiwis and Saffas would import a few more foreigners...