News

Wallabies in the dark

Thursday 20th November 2008

Expecting the unexpected: Matt Giteau

With France chopping and changing their tactics almost weekly in their 'rebuilding process', the Wallabies admit they have little idea what to expect from Les Bleus when they clash at the Stade de France on Saturday.

After taking an 'attack-at-all-costs' approach during the last Six Nations tournament, Marc Li�vremont and his young troops have tried to adopt a more pragmatic and balanced gameplan.

Their last two Tests, consecutive wins over Argentina and the Pacific Islanders, have seen vastly different styles. After kicking the game to death against the Pumas, the ball was flung around a week later in their five-try defeat of the team from the South Pacific.

With some commentators in France saying even the French players' minds are muddled, the visitors to Paris on Saturday have even less idea of what they will be faced with.

"It's always difficult to prepare for them because they can play that tight game with the forwards, but they've also got that flair with the backs," Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau told the AAP.

"So, I mean, they're always very unpredictable. It's just, I think at home generally that stuff comes off for them, so we've just got to be wary of them."

The Wallabies crushed their French visitors last June in a 2-0 series win over an under-strength Bleus touring party, including a record 40-10 romp in Brisbane.

Giteau, though, said this time around the Wallabies are expecting a much tougher encounter.

"It was a different side and they were at a different stage of the year," he said.

"Now they're a lot fresher. Last time it was the end of a long season for them. I think a lot of them were mentally and physically tired.

"So it's going to be a much tougher game."

Australia have not beaten the French on home soil since 2000, having come down in their last three games in France.

"Playing France in France is always extremely tough," said Skipper Stirling Mortlock, one of only three survivors of that victorious touring team.

"They are very proud about their rugby history and whenever they pull on that blue jersey, they wear it with a huge amount of dignity and respect and honour.

"So we've got no doubts about what's in front of us. They've got the ability to play with typical French flair in attack, so good on counter attack. Their outside backs have good pace and score tries.

"So there's tests for us all over the paddock."

Scrum-half Luke Burgess sat out training on Tuesday due to a bout of the 'flu but is expected to be fully fit for Saturday's Test.