The Wallabies are bracing for a backlash from a new-look French team as they look to extend their winning start under former Parisian Michael Cheika.
Australia prevailed 3-0 in June’s home series against Les Bleus but expect to face a “different beast” at the intimidating Stade de France in their second Test of the spring tour.
“It’ll be nothing like when we played them at home,” said lock James Horwill.
“For them it’s all about winning at home and the Stade de France is their home.”
The match in the French capital represents another key chance for a host of players to enhance selection claims under Cheika, while the coach admits a sense of personal pride will also be on the line at one of his old stomping grounds.
Top 14 club Stade Francais was Cheika’s last coaching stop prior to joining the NSW Waratahs in 2013 and arguably the toughest stint of his career.
He was sacked after three years in which the club struggled with results and off-field issues but he still holds fond memories and strong connections with former colleagues.
“I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be (sweet to win in Paris),” Cheika said.
“It’s always to good to have a bit of niggle when you’ve been somewhere and then you come back and you go up against them.”
France’s humiliation in June prompted an overhaul of the squad with less than half of the side which lost the final match of the series in Australia named to start on Saturday.
The new-look side beat Fiji 40-15 win last weekend, with exciting backs Scott Spedding and Teddy Thomas impressing on debut.
Cheika also believes the inclusion of internationally inexperienced five-eighth Camille Lopez could indicate a new aggressive, attacking approach.
“I think they’ve made a decision by picking Lopez about the certain type of way they want to play,” Cheika said.
“He’s a great distributor of the ball and with himself and (halfback) Sebastien Tillous-Borde they’ll be able to switch between playing with the backs and playing with the forward power like they do.”
Cheika made just one change from the starting side which beat Wales 33-28 in his first Test in charge in Cardiff last week, with former skipper Horwill replacing Sam Carter.
The coach finalised his eight-man bench on Thursday, with playmaker Quade Cooper restored to the squad and Cheika indicating he would get his chance to impress off the bench.
“He (Cooper) was relatively unfortunate not to get a run on off the bench last week because I decided to go with (six forwards and two backs) but it’s a different challenge this week and that’s what I think we might need come the end of the game,” Cheika said.
“While I’m here I need to learn about guys and see them in different situations.”
AUSTRALIA vs FRANCE
Test match, Stade de France, Paris
Saturday, November 14, 9pm (0700 AEDT Sunday)
Head to head: Australia 26, France 17, drawn 2
Last meeting: Australia bt France 39-13, Sydney, June 2014
Odds: Australia: $1.80, France $2
Teams:-
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Sean McMahon, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga’a, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Will Skelton, Matt Hodgson, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne.
France: Scott Spedding, Yoann Huget, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Teddy Thomas, Camille Lopez, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Damien Chouly, Bernard le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Nicolas Mas, Guilhem Guirado, Alexandre Menini. Res: Benjamin Kayser, Uini Atonio, Xavier Chiocci, Alexandre Flanquart, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Yannick Nyanga, Charles Ollivon, Rory Kockott, Remy Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Medard (four to be omitted).
