Lièvremont sounds 'Wallaby warning'
Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:18
French coach Marc Lièvremont has warned Australia not to take his under-strength team lightly after naming just one survivor from last year's World Cup semifinal loss to England for their Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.
Biarritz centre Damien Traille is the only inclusion from the starting team that lost 9-14 to England in the last four of the World Cup in October.
France have left behind the bulk of their established Test stars for the completion of their domestic championship, the Top 14.
Lièvremont was bemused when asked at the team announcement on Monday if he thought his depleted line-up was confident of beating the full-strength Wallabies.
"What a question. Yes, I think we are going to play well on Saturday and win," Lièvremont said.
"In my opinion, we have a very good balance with just two players starting [a Test] for the first time. We tried to get some experienced players to start this game."
Brive wing Alexis Palisson and Biarritz prop Benoit Lecouls will make their Test debuts in a line-up featuring charismatic lock Sebastien Chabal and to be captained by Castres lock Lionel Nallet.
Lièvremont said the Wallabies would be much improved from their first outing under new coach Robbie Deans, a hard-fought 18-12 win over Ireland in Melbourne earlier this month.
"They're certainly better than what we saw against Ireland," he said.
"This Australian side has very big potential and with the quality of coaching from Robbie Deans, I am sure we are going to have a very explosive cocktail on Saturday."
France, who play two Tests against Australia, have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since their 28-19 victory in Sydney in 1990.
The Wallabies will announce their team on Tuesday.
AFP
