Preview: Australia v France
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:00
A good sign: Aussie Richard Brown hands out an autograph
France head into the second Test against Australia in Brisbane with another motley assortment of fledgling players, interspersed with hardened Test veterans.
French coach Marc Lièvremont has rung the changes from the team that went down 13-34 to the Australians last weekend in Sydney.
Once again Lièvremont has picked a rather experimental-looking French team, having made no less than seven changes to the side.
And once again it seems like Les Bleus are in for a rugby hiding.
One can safely assume that Lièvremont's flyhalf experiment of last week was not a success, after Benjamin Boyet's outing at pivot in Sydney failed to mobilise the French backs.
Of course no-one can be blamed for thinking that French coaches pick their flyhalves in a game of spin-the-bottle, so fleeting and erratic have the changes been in the French No.10 jersey over the past year or two.
Boyet is nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad this time round, with Lièvremont opting for Francois Trinh-Duc at flyhalf. Boyet's halfback partner Dimitri Yachvili also makes way from the starting XV, with Sebastien Tillous-Borde taking over behind the scrum.
It is clear that Lièvremont is using this tour only for experimental purposes only. The sad reality is that this team represents a French third team of sorts, and once the squad was announced, it was clear that the visitors would have very little chance of beating a practically full-strength Wallabies side.
As unacceptable as that situation is for Test rugby, one can hardly blame the French coach for wanting to make the best of a bad situation, and using the tour to give Test exposure to France's future stars.
The coach explained his selections in typically understated fashion: "It seemed to me that we didn't do everything we set out to do [in the Sydney Test]. This time, we will be more tactical."
Just how tactical they can be against an Australian side gaining in confidence in the fledgling stages of its tenure under Robbie Deans is up for debate.
The Aussies laboured for 45 minutes in Sydney before hitting their straps. A ten-minute blitz destroyed the French challenge, and after that the home side cruised comfortably away from their stuttering visitors.
Deans has made five changes to his side for the second Test, three of them enforced by injury (lock Nathan Sharpe, wing Lote Tuqiri and No.8 Wycliff Palu), and two players rested (flank George Smith and fullback Cameron Shepherd).
However, the attacking prowess of the team appears in no way diminished by the replacements, with players such as fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, eighthman Stephen Hoiles and flank Phil Waugh bringing their own international class to proceedings.
One of the most-improved players from the recent Super 14, Waratahs wing Lachlan Turner, also makes his debut for his country on Saturday.
Coach Robbie Deans justified Turners inclusion, and paid a compliment to the youngster's solid work ethic.
"Lachie has been playing well for Australia A and working hard off the field when he has trained with us," said Deans.
"We see this as a good opportunity to get his Test career under way."
Inspirational Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh can count himself extremely unlucky not to start every Test, but Australia of course have two fantastic openside flanks in Waugh and the evergreen George Smith.
Stephen Hoiles may not have the physical presence of Wycliff Palu, but he is a proven international class No.8.
Hoiles looked forward to another opportunity to impress the selectors in the Aussie jumper, ahead of the all-important Tri-Nations.
"I get a chance now. You put the pressure on yourself in every Test to perform and I haven't had too many opportunities like this one," Hoiles told the Herald.
"So I'm excited about it. It's funny how things work out. In all honesty, it is disappointing I've got here because of an injury."
"I would have liked to have played my way into the starting side from the Super 14. But I've only got myself to blame for that, and now there's a chance to make up for that frustration."
Players to watch:
For Australia: As usual, the mesmerising Matt Giteau will most likely be producing the footage for the highlights reels. He is always a slippery customer, and it was no surprise that he was the catalyst for Australia's surge last week. Also look out for the impressive Lachlan Turner. It might be his first Test match, but the wing knows where the try-line is - two tries in the Super 14 Final proves that. Another player that always brings his best is Phil Waugh. He will be keen to show that George Smith has nothing on him.
For France: So many new faces, but look out for halfback pair Sebastien Tillous-Borde at No.9 and Francois Trinh-Duc at pivot. If the French forwards manage to get their fair share of possession, those two will have to make better use of it. Wing Alexis Palisson was one of very few Frenchmen to impress in the Sydney Test. Look out for his turn of pace and tricky footwork.
Head to head: There is no doubt that the flyhalf battle between Matt Giteau and Francois Trinh-Duc will determine where the points will stack up. At the back of the scrum, France have an experienced campaigner in Imanol Harinordoquy - he will be hard-pressed by Australia's feisty and skillful Stephen Hoiles, of the Brumbies. In the line-outs, France will have more experience. French skipper Lionel Nallet and lock partner Sebastien Chabal will be looking to overpower the new boys on the block, Dean Mumm and James Horwill.
Recent results:
2008: Australia won 34-13, Sydney
2005: France won 26-16, Marseille
2005: Australia won 37-31, Brisbane
2004: France won 27-14, Paris
2002: Australia won 31-25, Sydney
2002: Australia won 29-17, Melbourne
2001: France won 14-13, Marseille
2000: Australia won 18-13, Paris
1999: Australia won 35-12, Cardiff (WC Final)
1998: Australia won 32-21, Paris
Prediction: France will be in for more of the same punishment with this sub-standard team. The Aussies will be too good for them in most facets, although the predicted rain will save the French from a truly embarrassing scoreline. Aussies to win by 20 points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling
Mortlock (captain), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lachlan Turner, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dean Mumm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 George Smith, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Cameron Shepherd.
France: 15 Benjamin Thiéry, 14 Alexis Palisson, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Thibault Lacroix, 11 David Janin, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Matthieu Lièvremont, 5 Lionel Nallet (captain), 4 Sebastien Chabal, 3 Renaud Boyoud, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Pierre Correia.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Benoit Lecouls, 18 David Couzinet, 19 Louis Picamoles 20 Yannick Caballero, 21 Dimitri Yachvili, 22 Jean-Baptiste Peyras
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue:
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Conditions: Cloudy, cool and breezy with showers. High 21°C, Low 13°C.
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
By Phil Coetzer
