France return to action looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat in Christchurch, facing a Wallabies side desperate to avoid back-to-back losses to open the Nations Championship.
Australia v France (09:40 SAST)
Australia blew a 12-point lead against Ireland in Sydney, leading 24-19 at half-time before conceding two converted tries in the second half to lose 33-31. Their discipline was a significant problem, giving away 11 penalties in their own half, and the defeat left them above only Argentina and Fiji in the Southern Hemisphere table.
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Schmidt makes two changes to the backline, with Tom Wright returning at fullback and uncapped Declan Meredith handed a debut at fly-half after injuries to Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson. He becomes the sixth player to wear the number 10 jersey for Australia in the last year.
France lost 34-32 in Christchurch in a nine-try match where they fought back from six points down at half-time to score three second-half tries but ultimately fell short. Galthie has made significant changes for Brisbane, with five players who featured in the Top 14 final coming into the starting XV.
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Romain Ntamack returns at fly-half with Matthieu Jalibert shifting to fullback, and the front row is bolstered by the addition of Moses Alo-Emile and Peato Mauvaka. Emmanuel Meafou brings considerable physical presence in the engine room alongside Florian Verhaeghe. Damian Penaud misses the remainder of the July fixtures with a calf injury, replaced on the wing by Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang.
Australia have won five of their six previous home matches against France, including all five meetings at Suncorp Stadium. But France have won four of the last five encounters overall, including a 28-26 win on Australian soil in 2021. This France side, near full-strength for the first time this summer, is a different proposition to the one that faced New Zealand.
Rugby live betting – Reading momentum, cards and tactical swings
Pick: France to win @1.38
Secondary pick: France draw no bet @1.29
Photo: REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
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