Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Australia vs France | Saturday 21 June | Sydney | 07:00
The three Test series between Les Bleus and the Wallabies took a significant drop in pace for the second clash in Melbourne, with a paltry six points scored in the boring battle at Etihad Stadium a stark contrast to the 73 points collected in the opening game of the series. The 6-0 Wallaby victory gives them an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the competition, but raised some serious concerns regarding Ewan McKenzie’s apprehensive lack of flair and ingenuity on attack. The French side was a far more imposing outfit last week with the return of their first choice players, but their impressively impermeable defence was never going to be enough to bounce back from their opening round defeat without a competent attack to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The reality is that the second-string French substitutes provided a far more cunning and explosive attack in Brisbane than the top guns managed to deliver in Melbourne last Saturday. If both teams can sort out their attacks for the final showdown in Sydney we could be in for quite the treat, if not we’re condemned to another eighty unbearable minutes of inept ball handling and poor decision making.
To Win (80mins)
Australia 1/6
France 9/2
Draw 30/1
Handicaps
Australia (-12.5) 9/10
France (+12.5) 9/10
Australia
Ewen McKenzie has made four changes for the final Test, all of them up front as he retains the same starting backline for the third consecutive game. Waratahs big man Will Skelton will earn his first Wallaby cap when he runs out at his home ground this Saturday, replacing James Horwill in the second row. Ben McCalman falls to the bench despite an impressive performance last week to make space for the return of Wycliff Palu from injury. In the front row, Pek Cowan takes over from Scott Sio at loosehead prop in a rotational change.
France
Philippe Saint-Andre’s front row gamble of giving both Alexandre Menini and Rabah Slimani their starting debut last week paid off for Les Bleus, and both props have deservedly retained their places in the run on side this week. France has made just two changes to the starting XV this week, one in the backline and one in the forwards. Saint-Andre has decided against using Louis Picamoles to help beef up his substantially smaller pack (roughly 85kg slimmer than their tubby opponents), opting instead for the mobile Fulgence Ouedraogo to replace Yannick Nyanga on the flank. The unimpressive backline from last week has been granted a second chance this week, bar the tired looking Maxime Medard, who is replaced on the wing by youngster Hugo Bonneval.
VERDICT: France (+12.5) 9/10
The French controlled most of the game last week but lacked any finesse on attack. Their defence was phenomenal which makes the +12.5 handicap a no-brainer. The Wallabies were equally unimpressive at the back so the French have a decent shot of picking up a parting victory this week, and with a juicy 9/2 offered for an outright win no one could fault you for backing the temperamental tourists for an upset.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this is going to play out.
