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).
Doug Orr
Guest
Agree! Had to turn the sound off!
Jock M
Guest
The little bit that I watched further confirmed in my mind that Rugby now differs little from Rugby League- the breakdown is effectively a play the ball league style only the ball is not played between the legs. No wonder none of the private net works wanted to telecast the tests. Obviously the Australian sports viewing public have not fallen for the corporate rugby spin and see the game for the sham that it now is.
Jim Bal
Guest
No excuse for not finding touch with penalty at this level. Poor chase from a couple of kicks. Either could have cost the game. Bloody scrum is unbelievably unreliable. Watching the aerial shot of Slipper seems to reveal he was the problem (in the absence of any valid explanation of front row doings). Commentary refreshing: no incessant statistic drivvle from Clarkie. Give me the NZ or SA commentators any time in preference to the Aussie counterparts. Lucky win.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
And therein lies the "Pepper" when we should have the "Salt" ------------ Mumm!!!
The Craw
Roar Rookie
Must have Morahan in the 23, if not the run on side. Naivalu was also very impressive! Sad that Coops didn't get his chance, especially in light of having played some Rugby in France recently and no doubt having some valuable insight. I felt for Slipper - he wasn't performing but he was getting angled in on badly by the French tighthead. Maybe World Rugby needs to trial a scrum ref upstairs..
Red Kev
Guest
But he's not getting overpowered. He's losing a shoulder to push on!
Hokonui27
Guest
Good win on the road Oz......three now from five, and holding SH rugby where it should be. Onya Cheika and oz boys for keeping your crap together, playing winning footie, and pissing off the Jones twins Eddie and Stephen......Best wishes for the last two games on the cabbage patch, and in the bogs. Kia kaha.......
JimmyB
Guest
Really? I thought the coverage was terrible, it almost made me pine for Ch 10s substandard offerings. The English commentator was truly terrible, I don't know who it was, but I hope to never have to listen to him again, he was inane.
zubrick
Guest
refreshing coverage....really enjoyable thanks sbs thank goodness we got the win..the last few minutes especially exciting unblemished tour so far cheika will be happy with the effort french tight 5 outplayed our boys ...paddies will have noticed cant wait for next weekend
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah but defence is easily fixed :)
Harry
Guest
I'm not saying Simmons had a bad game, I just thought Douglas was better and should be Coleman's replacement. But Simmons brings lineout expertise. Cheika's choice. He'll probably go with Dean Mumm!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes they do, which is why I say they could win one. England and Ireland are pointing ahead of Oz but only in the sense of comparing who beat who, who lost to who by this much etc other than the England series. Oz have improved from earlier and are now winning, regardless of how. Ireland have definitely improved from last year but should really have taken two off SA. SA have gone sharply backwards and I think England, Wales, Scotland and France have largely remained the same, though England have yet to be tested. Ireland particularly will be very confident against oz, or anyone for that fact after its recent performances. There's a real confidence about them.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
A win is a WIN !! ... though unconvincing and France would have been equally deserving winners had that drop-goal been on target for them at the end. Takeaway points for me: - agree on Slipper.. he's not up to this level (can he become a hooker??) - Godwin played very conservatively, but I suspect his set plays went out the window when Quade was ruled out with 20 min to go - Naivalu is a good defensive winger and will be a great WBs winger when bedded in the starting backline - Morahan should be in the 23 for the rest of the tour - we have no depth at lock - Pocock was immense (MOM for me) - Kuridrani is finding that extra hunger again - Foley's game was good again, great line he ran to score and great vision from Genia to find him - Skelton was actually effective - Hooper was missed - very gutsy defensive effort across the field, true grit and determination led nobly by Pocock who had his best game this year. Cooper might start against the Irish. Who to start replacing Coleman?
Geoff Parkes
Expert
What are you on about?? It was an excellent match, great finish and i'm delighted for the Wallabies who will take as much from this match as from the last two. You need to lose your chip buddy.
Dingleberry Hufflethwaite III
Roar Rookie
Yeah I really appreciated watching that empty ground with background noise during half time...
Pie Thrower
Guest
I thought Simmons had a good game. Most other people seem to agree. But I guess it's good to trot out the same old lines. Quade had a poor game as well.
AlBo
Guest
Morahan was special but to say he was much more involved than Folau is stretching the truth a tad. Morahan made 1 Pass and 10 runs and Folau made 15 passes and 10 runs last week. I do agree we should find a spot for him though. He or Sefa should take a wing spot next week.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Great thing about sport though, upsets do happen. Ireland were very good against New Zealand, look like they'll dominate the Wallabies in the set piece. Inability for them to get over the tryline though (but there is no doubt Australia's defence will be worse than New Zealand's was today).
Antoni
Guest
The disappointment is written all over your words. I will be ecstatic for you Parkes. What an amazing win from our second string team. The clown is juggling with 5 balls today. What a great circus he has created.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
FYI comments@sbs.com.au I've sent my appreciation to SBS KP