Second-string France to test Aussies
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:52
The underdog: French coach Marc Lievremont
France may have left behind most of their best players for the domestic championship play-offs, but they are still expected to test the transitional Wallabies in the first of two Tests, in Sydney on Saturday.
The French have just one survivor from last year's World Cup semifinal loss to England in their lineup, but coach Marc Lievremont has warned Australia to under-estimate his side at their peril.
"If the Wallabies underestimate us, that is not my problem," Lievremont said Thursday.
"We haven't got our best players but they also met difficulties against Ireland. Better if they underestimate us. One thing is sure, we don't underestimate them.
"There are a few players missing, but to me this team is balanced. We chose to put out as many experienced players as possible."
Only Biarritz centre Damien Traille remains from the starting team that lost 14-9 to England in Paris last October, with back-row forwards Sebastien Chabal and Imanol Harinordoquy replacements coming off the bench that day.
The Australians had to pull out all the stops to preserve an 18-12 win over Ireland in Melbourne a fortnight ago in their first outing under New Zealander Robbie Deans, who is now demanding more from his team.
"We're still in the early stages. They made a good start, but not a great start. We'll need to be better," Deans said.
Deans wants an improved kick-chase defence against what he considers to be a superior French outfit to the one which finished third in this year's Six Nations tournament.
"Against this team, this French side, they'll sting us. If we present a chase line as flawed as it was in Melbourne, they'll bite us," he said.
"I'm expecting improvement. I'm very conscious of the fact that without improvement we won't get home where we were lucky enough to get home against Ireland."
One area the unchanged Australians are expecting France to target them is in the scrum.
"They're French so scrummaging for them is a way of life and [hooker Sebastien] Bruno and [Lionel] Faure the loosehead prop have had combination at [English club] Sale," forwards coach Michael Foley said.
"They'll also have Chabal packing in behind them who's also with them at the same club so there's combination there for them.
"Both locks are big, physical guys and certainly with the captain [Lionel Nallet] in the tight five it suggests the approach that they'll have to the game."
France, who haven't won in Australia since their 28-19 victory in Sydney in 1990 four tours ago, are giving Brive wing Alexis Palisson and Biarritz prop Benoit Lecouls their Test debuts.
But Deans has a deep respect for the French challenge over the next two weekends in Sydney and Brisbane.
"They're very capable and a powerful mix," he said. "They've got their key decision-makers and play-makers at No.9, No.10, No.12 and No.13 - plus their youthful enthusiasm and pace that they've got working off that.
"I believe this is a stronger side than what they presented through Six Nations and they've got some capabilities in areas we are potentially a bit vulnerable, certainly based on our first outing."
AFP
