Preview: France vs Australia

After hammering Fiji last Saturday the French entertain the Wallabies for the fourth time this year as they look to make it back to back wins in the Autumn Series. The Wallabies also tasted success in their victory over Wales in what was Michael Cheika’s first test match in charge of Australia. Cheika will now look to build on that with a win over a side they had such dominace over in recent years.

The French have only managed to overcome the Wallabies once in the last nine times these sides have met. That victory was in 2012 when the French hammered Australia 33-6. Apart from that spectacular win there have not been many good days at the office against the Southern Hemisphere side, which included a series whitewash for Australia in the Summer including some heavy defeats in the first and third test. The two sides also met in a World Cup final  in 1999 but like so many of the games they have played against each other it was rather one sided affair with Australia winning 35-12.

In teams news France stick with the same XV in an impressive win over Fiji last Saturday with Scott Spedding and hat-trick hero Teddy Thomas keeping their places after both impressed on their debuts for Les Bleus.

As for the Wallabies they make one change to the side that defeated Wales with James Horwill replacing Sam Carter at second row. After an impressive display from Bernard Foley at the weekend, Cheika still resists in calling back the fit again Quade Cooper to start at 10 with Cheika opting for the Waratahs Flyhalf to do the business for him.

Australia have had a fantastic record against the French in recent years but they will know not to underestimate them. As for the French they will start the game as huge under dogs  and that could work to their advantage as they looked to claim a win against the Wallabies to make up for their disastrous Summer Series.