France, Australia seek experience to replace injury-ravaged sides

MARCOUSSIS - France and Australia have selected their most experienced available lineups for tomorrow's test in Marseille after both coaches were confronted with dismaying injury lists.

France coach Bernard Laporte was forced to name a 22-player squad without No 8s Julien Bonnaire and Imanol Harinordoquy, lock Pascal Pape, centre Damien Traille and wing Christophe Dominici.

In response he has recalled 32-year-old Thomas Lievremont at No 8 and Lionel Nallet and Thomas Castaignede, aged 29 and 30 respectively, replace Pape and Dominici.

His Australian counterpart, Eddie Jones, who starts the November internationals without 14 of his leading players, also opted for seasoned internationals when he named his team yesterday.

Reserve prop Greg Holmes is the only member of the 22 who has yet to play a test while, at the other extreme, captain George Gregan is poised to win a world record 115th cap.

Matt Giteau was named at first five-eighths after missing the final Tri-Nations match through injury. Mat Rogers is moving onto the left wing, and Wendell Sailor is returning on the right after missing three tests with a knee injury.

France will rely on an impressive back line with five Toulouse players in their starting 15: halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, first five-eighths Frederic Michalak, centres Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz, and wing Cedric Heymans.

Aurelien Rougerie on the left wing and Julien Laharrague at fullback will complete a combination of speed, skill and power.

Laporte's main concern lies with the pack. He has selected five forwards and only two backs on the bench in case he is forced to reshuffle the forwards.

"We know we are going to face a strong physical challenge. The Australians have a formidable back row with George Smith and Phil Waugh," he said.

So far this year, the French have lost their Six Nations grand slam title after losing to Wales at the Stade de France and they returned from their Southern Hemisphere tour with a draw and a defeat in South Africa and a loss to Australia.

"Win, win, win and win again is our only goal this month. We now need to mould a shell of wins, which will give us a fund of confidence," said France captain Fabien Pelous.

"Our last summer tour allowed young and talented players to discover rugby at the highest level and to stake their claim for the future. It was what we were looking for, but now we need convincing results. We need consistency.

"England won all their home games before the World Cup, and we were the only team that defeated them away.

"We should do the same thing, and to start with we have to win our four games against Australia, Samoa, Canada and South Africa."

On the same theme, Jones has asked his team to restore a "fear factor" after losing five consecutive games for the first time in more than 30 years.

"You don't have a fear factor when you lose games, and if we win the first game, we will have the fear factor back," he said.

"The closer you get to a World Cup, the more important it is to keep the balance between doing well and developing players.

"But we are there to win test matches, and that's always the balance. Winning is important. It helps a team gain confidence, and there's no doubt we need that."

* Marseille, 8.55am tomorrow

France

Julien Laharrague
Aurelian Rougerie
Florian Fritz
Yannick Jauzion
Cedric Heymans
Frederic Michalak
J-B Elissalde
Remy Martin
Thomas Lievremont
Yannick Nyanga
Jerome Thion
Fabien Pelous (c)
Pieter de Villiers
Dimitri Szarzewski
Olivier Milloud

Australia

Chris Latham
Wendell Sailor
Lote Tuqiri
Morgan Turinui
Mat Rogers
Matt Giteau
George Gregan (c)
George Smith
Phil Waugh
Rocky Elsom
Nathan Sharpe
Mark Chisholm
Al Baxter
Brendan Cannon
Matt Dunning

Reserves:

France: Sebastien Bruno, Sylvain Marconnet, Lionel Nallet, Gregory Lamboley, Sebastien Chabal, Yann Delaigue, Thomas Castaignede.

Australia: Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes, Hugh McMeniman, John Roe, Chris Whitaker, Lloyd Johansson, Drew Mitchell

- REUTERS