Australia poised to wrap up series against France
Australia will be eager to make it 2-0 in their three-Test series with France when the two nations meet at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Tuesday.
On the back of a dramatic and rather fortunate 23-21 triumph over Les Bleus, the Wallabies know they need to be much-improved this time around.
Had it not been for a last moment blunder that saw Teddy Iribaren and Melvyn Jaminet conspire to turn possession over, France would be up 1-0.
Sadly for the visitors the rest is history and they must now regroup and improve to keep the series alive before the third Test on Saturday in Brisbane.
There is little experimentation from Australia though, making just one change in the forwards as they look to wrap up the series before the weekend.
Last time they met
In a hard-fought and evenly contested meeting last Wednesday, France held the lead for the entire match but Australia kept their nerve and pounced on an error from the visitors – who didn’t put the ball into touch from a lineout after the final hooter – and after winning a penalty, fly-half Noah Lolesio clinched the unlikely triumph with the match-winning kick. The 21-year-old Brumbies playmaker finished with a 13-point haul as he also succeeded with two other penalty goals and as many conversions, with hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and skipper Michael Hooper scoring Australia’s tries. Wing Gabin Villiere led the way with a brace of scores for Les Bleus while fly-half Louis Carbonel added a conversion and two penalties and full-back Melvyn Jaminet also slotted a three-pointer off the kicking tee before the late drama.
What they said
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has called for greater accuracy in their game as they look to follow up the opening Test success from one week ago.
“We’ve worked hard and we’re well conditioned,” Rennie said. “A lack of accuracy in Brisbane denied us the opportunity to make the most of that, but we showed plenty of character to stay in the fight until the final whistle. We must start fast, be more clinical and turn pressure into points at AAMI Park on Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, France head coach Fabien Galthie is looking forward to seeing Stade Francais second-row Pierre-Henri Azagoh make his debut this week.
“He (Azagoh) is a discovery,” he said of the 22-year-old lock as Les Bleus made five alterations to their starting line-up for the meeting in Melbourne. “(He) plays in the shadows, he is a worker, very active who shows a lot of intelligence and doesn’t play for himself. He can be another revelation on this tour.”
Players to watch
The aforementioned sole change to the Wallabies’ starting XV sees Taniela Tupou come in for Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead. If anything this strengthens their side as Tupou’s carrying adds an extra weapon to Australia’s arsenal on Tuesday. One of the more prolific prop try-scorers, watch the ‘Tongan Thor’ go.
For France, they will be hoping for a performance of the same ilk from Gabin Villiere as he starred last week with a brace of tries. Australia will be much warier of the left wing this week so both player and Les Bleus need to vary his involvement as he looks to best Tom Wright for the second fixture running.
Main head-to-head
Two hard-running centres clash once again in the midfield as Hunter Paisami and Arthur Vincent face off. Paisami has impressed on a consistent basis in Super Rugby and is converting that form into the international arena, looking quite a prospect at 23 years of age. He hits intelligent lines off those inside him and should be a threat for years to come in the gold jersey. Vincent too is an excellent carrier of the ball and alongside Jonathan Danty, France have two line busting centres who will help fly-half Louis Carbonel no end. Expect fireworks between the two number 13s in what should be another key battle between them.
Prediction
We can’t see the Wallabies being as slow out of the traps as they were last time out so expect a much-improved, 80-minute performance from the hosts. It will not be a comfortable victory, however, with France’s ever-impressive depth of player set to be evident again. We are backing Australia to win by 12 points.
Previous results
2021: Australia won 23-21 in Brisbane
2016: Australia won 25-23 in Paris
2014: France won 29-26 in Paris
2014: Australia won 39-13 in Sydney
2014: Australia won 6-0 in Melbourne
2014: Australia won 50-23 in Brisbane
2012: France won 33-6 in Paris
2010: Australia won 59-16 in Paris
The teams
Australia: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Isi Naisarani, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Andrew Kellaway
France: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Anthony Jelonch (c), 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Ibrahim Diallo, 5 Cyril Cazeaux, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Enzo Forletta, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Romain Taofifenua, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Teddy Iribaren, 23 Anthony Bouthier
Date: Tuesday, July 13
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 20:00 local (11:00 BST, 10:00 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)