Autumn Nations Series | What are the teams for France v Australia?

by Autumn Nations Series

France welcome Australia to the Stade de France for their final match of the Summer Nations Series and will look to lay down a marker ahead of the World Cup on home soil.

After an experimental side was beaten away in Scotland in their opening game, France have bounced back with a victory over the Scots in the reverse fixture before beating Fiji last time out.

They will now take on Australia on Sunday, with the Wallabies having brought in some extra coaching experience this week as World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen has linked up with Eddie Jones’ side.

READ MORE: Baille and Jelonch included in 33-man France squad for World Cup

France team news

Fabien Galthié has gone for what is effectively a full-strength starting XV, with the vast majority of those who will be on the pitch for kick-off likely to line up against the All Blacks in a fortnight’s time.

Matthieu Jalibert gets his chance at fly-half alongside skipper Antoine Dupont, and will look to show that he can fill the boots of the injured Romain Ntamack.

Jean-Baptiste Gros will start at loosehead to prove his credentials with Cyril Baille not expected to be fit until the end of the pool stages.

On the bench, there is a first appearance of the Summer Nations Series for Romain Taofifenua, while his brother Sébastien, who is a reserve for France’s World Cup squad, will get a chance to add another cap as he is named on the bench.

France team to face Australia:

15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 François Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Grégory Alldritt

🇫🇷⚡️🇦🇺 Notre équipe pour 𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞́𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 au @stadefrance avant la Coupe du Monde !

𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚉 𝙻𝙴𝚂 𝙱𝙻𝙴𝚄𝚂 ! 💙#UnisPourUnRêve #XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #FRAAUS pic.twitter.com/p5oE92qtIT

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) August 24, 2023

Replacements

16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Sébastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Melvyn Jaminet

Australia team news

Eddie Jones has also gone with a really strong team for Australia’s only appearance in the Summer Nations Series.

The Wallabies were narrowly beaten by New Zealand in their last outing, and will be led by new skipper Will Skelton while Taniela Tupou will make his first Test start since the teams last met in Paris a year ago.

Elsewhere, Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight will join forces on the flanks, while prop Blake Schoupp and scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are in line for their debuts off the bench.

Australia team to face France:

15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Suniasi Vunivalu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Tate McDermott; 1 Angus Bell, 2 Dave Porecki, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Richie Arnold, 5 Will Skelton (c), 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Rob Valetini

Replacements

16 Matt Faessler, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Langi Gleeson, 22 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 23 Ben Donaldson