Missing their players from Top 14 finalists Toulouse and La Rochelle, and others such as Charles Ollivon through injury, France have travelled to Australia with a shadow squad.
Written off as ‘third string’ by the Aussie press and forced to quarantine for a fortnight on arrival, Les Bleus are up against it, there is no doubt about that.
But spending two weeks together holed up in a hotel will have given head coach Fabien Galthie and his management time to devise a plan to shock a Wallabies side that is also evolving, and vulnerable to shock results.
The former scrum-half proved in his first season as Les Bleus’ coach that he is quite capable of moulding together a group of players, who would not ordinarily be regarded as first-choice, and enable them to do a very good job.
A callow French side reached the final of the Autumn Nations Cup, to the delight of Rugby Tipster followers who had been advised to back them at long odds, only to lose to England in extra-time.
And some of the players blooded in that campaign then went on to deliver in the Six Nations as Les Bleus lit up the tournament only to fall just short of claiming the silverware again.
In Louis Carbonel, they have a fly-half every bit as good as regular 10, Toulouse’s Romain Ntamack, and who is arguably a lot further down the development road than his opposite number, Noah Lolesio.
Lolesio is partnered in the half-backs by rookie Jake Gordon and will be hoping for a much-improved showing in his second Test start at 10 than on his debut against the All Blacks last year. The Wallabies were pummelled that day 43-5.
Throughout Dave Rennie’s team, there are untried combinations, and on paper, this Australian team is nothing for the French to be afraid of.
SBK are offering 17/5 for an away win.
Australia: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Isi Naisarani, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Len Ikitau, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
France: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Arthur Vincent, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Baptiste Couilloud, 8 Sekou Macalou, 7 Anthony Jelonch (captain), 6 Dylan Cretin, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Killian Geraci, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Quentin Walcker, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Florent Vanverberghe, 20 Baptiste Pesenti, 21 Cameron Woki, 22 Teddy Iribaren, 23 Anthony Bouthier.
Date: Wednesday, July 7
Venue: Lang Park, Brisbane
Kick-off: 18.00 (12.00 French time, 10.00 GMT)
