Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wallabies preparing for mighty challenge in facing 'the best in the world'

Rob Valetini takes on the French line. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Dave Rennie believes his Wallabies will be up against the best team in the world after France named a formidable outfit for the Paris Test, headed by their superstar halfback Antoine Dupont.

ADVERTISEMENT

The European champions are currently ranked second in the world but coach Rennie was adamant on Thursday that Les Bleus are at the moment without equal on the global stage.

Since the French lost to the Wallabies in Brisbane in July 2021, they’ve been unbeaten, winning a Six Nations grand slam and now ready on Saturday to become the first generation of Les Bleus to win 11 straight Tests.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“We’re well aware this side’s the best in the world, regardless of what the rankings say,” Rennie told reporters.

“They’re unbeaten in about 15 months, they’ve beaten No.1-ranked side Ireland, so we’re looking forward to the challenge. We’re certainly going to go out there and give it a crack.”

Rennie said he believed the Gallic ascent has been clear for a number of years.

“The best French players play in France, the most money in the rugby world is in France, so their best players don’t leave, so they’ve got access to their very best.

“There’s phenomenal depth in the club sides here, 28 professional sides up here so there’s a hell of a lot of quality players to pick from – and they’ve done it well.

ADVERTISEMENT

“They play a simple game. They’ve got massive forwards, good athletes, their backline can play when they want too, but they play a lot of territory and back their defence.”

Related

Not to mention having one very special player in halfback Dupont.

“He’s incredible,” said Rennie. “Unbelievable running game and kicking game, he kicks well off both feet and incredibly long.

“Whether he’s the best in the world, it’s difficult to make comparisons with different positions, but he’s certainly highly respected by us. He’s had a hell of a couple of years.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Dupont will be boosted by the return of his halfback partner Romain Ntamack following his recent injury troubles.

After last featuring for the Top 14 leaders in September, No.10 Ntamack was the headline selection in the team as coach Fabien Galthie made 11 changes to the side that started July’s Test win in Japan.

Wallabies’ No.10 Bernard Foley conceded: “They’ve been the world’s best halves’ combination for the last 12 months.

“They’ve got the world player of the year in Dupont and Ntamack has done really well at club and international level, so it’s always a challenge to come up against the best.”

Charles Ollivon, who missed France’s triumphant Six Nations campaign due to a lengthy injury lay-off, starts at flanker and joins Gregory Alldritt and Anthony Jelonch in the back row.

France team:
Thomas Ramos, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Gregory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch, Thibaud Flament, Cameron Woki, Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Dany Priso, Sipili Falatea, Romain Taofifenua, Kilian Geraci, Sekou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Matthieu Jalibert.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall' 'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'
Search