France vs. Australia: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Rugby Preview
The last time Australia visited the Stade de France for an autumn international back in 2012, the hosts ran out convincing 33-6 winners.
However, the result is likely to be somewhat closer in Paris on Saturday with both sides coming into the encounter having kicked off their November fixtures with a win.
Australia overcame Wales for the 10th consecutive time last weekend while France convincingly beat Fiji in an impressive display.
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Both sides look in fine shape, and it should be a ferocious Test match in the French capital. Read on for all the details as well as a full preview.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports 4 (UK only)
Live Stream: Sky Go
Preview
France's three-Test tour of Australia back in June did not go well for the tourists as they lost each encounter, two fairly convincingly.
The middle and decisive Test in the series was one of the least inspiring international rugby union encounters of all time, finishing 6-0 per Rugbydump.com:
However, there is likely to be much more to get excited about come Saturday evening in Paris with large swathes of quality set to be on show at the Stade de France.
The French showed a great deal of quality in thrashing Fiji 40-15 last weekend with debutant Teddy Thomas scoring a hat-trick from the wing, the Racing Metro player likely eager to claim more success against Australia.
Another man playing his maiden Test last weekend for France was full-back Scott Spedding on whom the Wallabies will need to keep a close eye in Paris.
He set up two of Thomas' tries and could be the key to unlocking the Australian defence, rugby writer Ben Colse providing his stats from the Fiji game:
France have a strong pack also and will hope to dominate in the forwards, but Australia have got plenty of match-winners in their own side.
Another thriller against Wales last weekend ended 33-28 to the tourists thanks to a a late penalty and drop-goal from Bernard Foley who bagged 18 points.
Full-back Israel Folau also ended his mini try-drought—stretching the previous four Tests—with two against Wales and the Waratahs man will be a major threat on Saturday.
Aussie scrum-half Nick Phipps says his side have not forgotten the last time they visited Paris and admits they are in for a tough encounter, per WA Today (h/t Planet Rugby):
"I was here in 2012 and we got absolutely ambushed there, we were well and truly beaten around the park.
That wasn't a very pleasant experience, it shocked us a little bit. It was the first game of tour that year and we managed to do quite well in the other four games.
But you can expect [France] will be a completely different team to the one that came out in June. It would be pretty hard to draw comparisons to now, the French are such a passionate team.
They're phenomenal at home, the psyche [coach Michael Cheika] has talked about them having is that they never lose at home. They'll throw a lot at us.
"
Indeed, new Australia coach Michael Chieka has some experience of the French methods, having spent some time at Stade Francais.
With the World Cup less than a year away, each international side is looking to pit their wits against the best with the aim of gaining some momentum with a win.
Australia could lay down a marker by beating France on home soil, but equally Les Bleus could prove their progress with a win over their summer conquerors.
Saturday is likely to be a bruising encounter in the pack, but there is some real flair on show in the respective back lines, and a tight match is surely on the cards.
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