AUSTRALIA v FRANCE

10.11.2012

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Preview
French coach Phillipe Saint Andre has stayed mostly with the side that crushed Argentina 49-10 back in June. There are two new caps in the forward starting lineup and a third on the bench. Michalak returns after a long absence whilst Nyanga last played for France back in 2007. This French side strangely has a settled look about it despite the changes.

Robbie Dean’s Australians have had a horror year for injuries. The drawn match against New Zealand last month was a gutsy effort. Australia has the edge historically over France and has won the last four encounters between these two nations.

It will be a close match.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Australia 2nd, France 8th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 86.37, France 83.03

Prediction: More upsets this month. France to squeak in by 2 points

TEAMS

France
15 Brice Dulin, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Florian Fritz , 12 Maxime Mermoz,
11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Jocelino Suta*,
4 Pascal Papé, Capt. 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier*.
Replacements
16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Sébastien Vahaamahina*, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc,
23 Yoann Huget
Head Coach: Philippe Saint Andre

* New cap

Australia
15 Michael Harris, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Benjamin Tapuai,
12 Patrick McCabe, 11 Nicholas Cummins, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nicholas Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 David Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, Capt. 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements
16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Patrick Ryan*, 19 Robert Simmons, 20 Radike Samo, 21 Liam Gill, 22 Brett Sheehan, 23 Berrick Barnes.
Head Coach": Robbie Deans

* New cap