French rugby 2020/2021

[Robespierre]

1st Test Australia v France Wednesday July 7th in Brisbane (ko 12 noon French time)

There are loads of new names in both sides. French fullback Jaminet was playing ProD2 for Perpignan last season. France will need a big game from their pack and particularly the back row of whom I expect a lot from Captain Jelonch (who'll be joining Toulouse from Castres in the close season.)

France XV:
Jaminet - Penaud, Vincent, Danty, Villière - (o) Carbonel, (m) Couilloud - Jelonch (cap.), Macalou, Cretin - R. Taofifenua, Geraci - Bamba, Barlot, Gros.
Remplaçants : Etrillard, Walcker, Falatea, Vanverberghe, Pesenti, Woki, Iribaren, Bouthier.

Names that stand out in the Aussie XV, are Matt To'omua who'll be winning his 48th cap, Michael Hooper (106th) and James Slipper (101st)

Australia XV:
Tom Banks - Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Matt To'omua, Marika Koroibete - Noah Lolesio (o), Jake Gordon (m) - Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (cap.), Rob Valetini - Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip - Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper.
Remplaçants : Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Isi Naisarani, Tate McDermott, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway.

The referee will be New Zealand's Paul Williams.

[Robespierre]

2nd Test - Australia v France in Melbourne July 13th ko 11am UK time.

There are five changes from the first test, and all in the pack. Captain Jelonch moves to 8, Woki comes in at 7 and Racing's Ibrahim Diallo wins his first cap wearing 6. Elsewhere, there are new caps for Castres prop Hounkpatin and Stade Français 2nd row Azagoh.
Macalou was disappointing at 8 last week and it's a shame he can't reproduce his club form for SF so it's understandable that Jelonch is at 8 and the excellent Woki is at wing forward.

Starting XV
Jaminet - Penaud, Vincent, Danty, Villière - (o) Carbonel, (m) Couilloud - Jelonch (cap.), Woki, I. Diallo - Cazeaux, Azagoh - Hounkpatin, Barlot, Gros.

Bench : Etrillard, Forletta, Bamba, Geraci, R. Taofifenua, Macalou, Iribaren, Bouthier

There's one change in the Aussie side, Tupou comes in at prop for Alaalatoa who's on the bench.
Australian XV:
Tom Banks - Tom Wright, Hunter Paisami, Matt To'omua, Marika Koroibete, - Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon - Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (c) - Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip - Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper

Bench: Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Isi Naisarani, Tate McDermott, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway

If France make fewer mistakes they should win but they'll have to shackle Marika Korobete, who's a real threat.

[kk20gb30]

Should anyone be interested the match is televised in the UK - Sky Sports Action from 11:00 am (Tues 13 July).

[Robespierre]

Great first half with France leading 16-13, but Koroibete, as i mentioned above, is on fire and luckily (for the French!) having a try disallowed.
Could go either way in the second half, but Australia are looking that bit more dangerous!

[Robespierre]

France win a fabulous test match 28-26..

The decider on Saturday!!

[Scott1]

France win a fabulous test match 28-26..

The decider on Saturday!!

Well done France,I’ll look forward to that!

[mightymouse]

Great game .. good win

[Robespierre]

Cameron Woki and captain Anthony Jelonch were exceptional in the back row, so 6Nations captain Charles Ollivon, who is injured and unavailable for this tour, may have his work cut out to regain his place.

France have also got the irrepressible François Cros and Gregory Alldritt in contention for a place. They're spoilt for choice.
The squad is building nicely for the 2023 World Cup!

[kk20gb30]

What goes around comes around , France keep the series alive.All to play for in the decider.Great effort from the young French team...

[Robespierre]

What goes around comes around , France keep the series alive.All to play for in the decider.Great effort from the young French team...

The decider is on Saturday at 11h00 UK time.

Not to be missed! Allez les Bleus!!

[Robespierre]

Several changes in the Australian side for the deciding third Test at Brisbane on Saturday (11.00 ko UK time)

Coach Dave Rennie can't be too happy having lost to a largely second choice French team but even so, he has picked a relatively inexperienced Test team, maybe with one eye on the forthcoming Rugby Championship (Aus, NZ, SA & Argentina).

15. Tom Banks (13 Tests) ; 14. Filipo Daugunu (5 Tests), 13. Len Ikitau (1 Test), 12. Hunter Paisami (8 Tests), 11. Marika Koroibete (36 Tests) ; 10. Noah Lolesio (4 Tests), 9. Tate McDermott (4 Tests) ; 7. Michael Hooper (cap.) (107 Tests), 8. Isi Naisarani (10 Tests), 6. Lachlan Swinton (1 Test) ; 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (27 Tests), 4. Darcy Swain (2 Tests) ; 3. Allan Alaalatoa (45 Tests), 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (11 Tests), 1. James Slipper (102 Tests).

Bench : 16. Jordan Uelese (12 Tests), 17. Angus Bell (5 Tests), 18. Taniela Tupou (27 Tests), 19. Matt Philip (11 Tests), 20. Rob Valetini (6 Tests), 21. Jake Gordon (7 Tests), 22. Matt To’omua (56 Tests), 23. Reece Hodge (45 Tests).

The French team will be announced shortly.

And here is the French team, with some changes. Racing's Teddy Thomas is in the starting XV . Lyon centre Pierre-Louis Barassi wins his first cap along with Pau fly half Antoine Hastoy. Clermont prop Sipili Falatea wins his first cap and Montpellier's Enzo Forletta (word!!) wins his second at prop.

15. Jaminet ; 14. Penaud, 13. Barassi, 12. Vincent, 11. Thomas; 10. Hastoy, 9. Couilloud ; 7. Woki, 8. Jelonch (cap.), 6. Cretin; 5. Taofifenua, 4. Cazeaux; 3. Falatea, 2. Barlot, 1. Forletta.

Bench: 16. Etrillard, 17. Walcker, 18. Bamba, 19. Azagoh, 20. Bécognée, 21. Iribaren, 22. Bouthier, 23. Hériteau.

Dare I hope for a French win to clinch the series? Oui!!

[Robespierre]

Several changes in the Australian side for the deciding third Test at Brisbane on Saturday (11.00 ko UK time)

Coach Dave Rennie can't be too happy having lost to a largely second choice French team but even so, he has picked a relatively inexperienced Test team, maybe with one eye on the forthcoming Rugby Championship (Aus, NZ, SA & Argentina).

15. Tom Banks (13 Tests) ; 14. Filipo Daugunu (5 Tests), 13. Len Ikitau (1 Test), 12. Hunter Paisami (8 Tests), 11. Marika Koroibete (36 Tests) ; 10. Noah Lolesio (4 Tests), 9. Tate McDermott (4 Tests) ; 7. Michael Hooper (cap.) (107 Tests), 8. Isi Naisarani (10 Tests), 6. Lachlan Swinton (1 Test) ; 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (27 Tests), 4. Darcy Swain (2 Tests) ; 3. Allan Alaalatoa (45 Tests), 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (11 Tests), 1. James Slipper (102 Tests).

Bench : 16. Jordan Uelese (12 Tests), 17. Angus Bell (5 Tests), 18. Taniela Tupou (27 Tests), 19. Matt Philip (11 Tests), 20. Rob Valetini (6 Tests), 21. Jake Gordon (7 Tests), 22. Matt To’omua (56 Tests), 23. Reece Hodge (45 Tests).

The French team will be announced shortly.

And here is the French team, with some changes. Racing's Teddy Thomas is in the starting XV . Lyon centre Pierre-Louis Barassi wins his first cap along with Pau fly half Antoine Hastoy. Clermont prop Sipili Falatea wins his first cap and Montpellier's Enzo Forletta (word!!) wins his second at prop.

15. Jaminet ; 14. Penaud, 13. Barassi, 12. Vincent, 11. Thomas; 10. Hastoy, 9. Couilloud ; 7. Woki, 8. Jelonch (cap.), 6. Cretin; 5. Taofifenua, 4. Cazeaux; 3. Falatea, 2. Barlot, 1. Forletta.

Bench: 16. Etrillard, 17. Walcker, 18. Bamba, 19. Azagoh, 20. Bécognée, 21. Iribaren, 22. Bouthier, 23. Hériteau.

Dare I hope for a French win to clinch the series? Oui!!

[Robespierre]

There's a late change to the French XV. 2nd row Cyrille Cazeaux has pulled out with a minor injury and is replaced by Pierre-Henri Azagoh with Baptiste Pesenti on the bench.