How A Wallabies-France Barbarians Team Could Line Up v The B&I Lions

On Sunday, news broke that Australia has offered to host the 2021 British and Irish Lions Tour with the Springboks still taking on the tourist in a three test series hosted Down Under rather than in the Republic.

Assembling a combined Wallabies and France side to face the British and Irish Lions was one of the ideas fielded as part of Rugby Australia’s (RA) offer to host their series.

“There will need to be a few warm-up games and the latest idea is to form a Wallabies-France Barbarians team for the Lions to play,” RA chairman Hamish McLennan told AAP.

Australia started their rebuilding process last year which resulted in a win and loss against the All Blacks as well as two draws. France, on the other hand, lost just two tests in 2020 with Fabien Galthie new live to Les Bleus.

The prospect of this team being put together has got us thinking about how they may lined up, here is how we think they may well start:

1. James Slipper - Australia

Australia have far more experience in the front row and with over 100 test caps to his name, Slipper takes the #1 jersey. Cyril Baille has shown real promise for France but we could not ignore the excellence of Slipper.

2. Julien Marchand - France

Brandon Paenga-Amosa made real strides in nailing down the starting jumper for Australia last year but the two hooker positions go to France's two front runners for the jersey in the ever-improving young talent of Julien Marchand and the sensational Camille Chat.

3. Taniela Tupou - Australia

Hard to ignore the mobility and improved set piece work of Taniela Tupou who is quickly becoming a world class tighthead prop.

4. Bernard Le Roux - France

Australia's second-row stocks were sorely hampered by the departure of top talents in the position after the 2019 Rugby World Cup but the rumoured return of Izack Rodda may well ease those concerns. 

In the meantime, the impressive Bernard Le Roux takes the #4 jersey in our team after a standout 2020 Six Nations.

5. Paul Willemse - France

As mentioned before, Australia's second-row stocks aren't exactly overflowing with top draw locks which leads us to including Paul Willemse alongside his countryman.

Willemse shredded weight and has improved his work rate since missing out on the Rugby World Cup and it has done his form the world of good.

6. Charles Ollivon - France

We wanted to get both teams' captains in our potential line up which means that Ollivon makes the switch to the blindside of the scrum. With Francois Cros, Dylan Cretin, Lukhan Salakai-Loto and Lachlan Swinton all providing strong competition for the jersey, Ollivon is more than capable of producing in the #6 jersey.

He has a tireless work ethic around the pitch, makes his tackles, turnovers and is a kingpin at the lineout. 

7.  Michael Hooper (c) - Australia

Still one of the finest openside flankers in the world, Hooper is an automatic pick in the side and also takes the captain's armband.

8. Gregory Alldritt - France

With two standout competitors vying for the role, we have gone with the slightly more experienced candidate with the ever-impressive Gregory Alldritt beating Harry Wilson to complete the pack.

9. Antoine Dupont - France

The easiest choice of them all. Arguably the best scrumhalf in the world.

10. Romain Ntamack - France

Ntamack is likely to miss the 2021 Six Nations but in 2020, he was one of the best pivots in the world.

11. Jordan Petaia - Australia

Petaia's future looks set to be in the #13 jersey but like Ollivon on the blinside, Petaia is more than capable on the wing.

An incredibly gifted player, Petaia beats the likes of Teddy Thomas, Gabin Villiere and fellow countryman Marika Koroibete, Tom Wright and Filipo Daugunu.

12. James O'Connor - Australia

O'Connor was a standout for Australia at flyhalf last year but we tend to make the most of his versatility by playing him at inside centre.

We assume that he and Ntamack would dovetail well together with the pair working as dual playmakers.

JOC beats the impressive Hunter Paisami and Gael Fickou to a place in the side.

13. Virmi Vakatawa - France

After shifting Petaia to the wing, there was only one man that could fill the #13 jersey. Vakatawa was the form outside centre in Europe last year and will be missed during the opening stages of the 2021 6 Nations.

14. Damian Penaud - France

While Teddy Thomas was excellent last year whilst Penaud was injured, the Clermont star is simply one of the first names on any teamsheet.

An incredible turn of pace paired with an excellent rugby brain makes him one of the most dangerous outside backs willing and able to break through a defence.

15. Brice Dulin - France

An outstanding Autumn Nations Cup earns Dulin the final spot in our team. Dulin has been in and out of the French squad since his debut back in 2012 but he laid a marker down in 2020 with a well rounded and secure display each time he took the field.

He beats fellow Frenchman Thomas Ramos and Anthony Bouthier to a place in the side while Reece Hodge finds a place on the bench and Tom Banks misses out.

Replacements:

Up front the superb Camille Chat is joined by fellow Frenchman Baille and Bamba. While Sio and Alaalatoa are certainly not discarded, the French trio have excelled together off the bench for Les Bleus. 

Matt Phillip covers the second row after a stellar 2020 with the Wallabies and is joined by Harry Wilson. We couldn't pick between Serin and White for the role of back up to Dupont, although he may just play the entire game. 

Hodge provides cover in the centres, fullback and flyhalf with Fickou able to add an injection of pace and flair outwide or in the midfield.

Camille Chat, Cyril Baille, Demba Bamba, Matthew Philip, Harry Wilson, Nic White/Baptiste Serin, Reece Hodge and Gael Fickou.