The stage is set for the clash of the titans with the Wallabies bracing for a beefed-up France forward pack in the second Test on Tuesday night in Melbourne.
While the Wallabies have included heavy-hitter Taniela Tupou as their starting tight-head for the AAMI Park match, he will be dwarfed by French debutant Wilfrid Hounkpatin.
Hounkpatin stands 192cm and weighs in at 132kg, with France coach Fabien Galthie bringing in five new forwards as they look to steamroll their way to a series-levelling win.
France’s failure to kick the ball out after 80 minutes effectively cost Les Bleus their first victory on Australian soil in 31 years, with the Wallabies notching a 23-21 win.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper expected the visitors to be stung by the opening loss at Suncorp Stadium and bring plenty of emotion into game two.
“Obviously they’re going to take it up another level this week,” Hooper said on Monday.
“They’ve made five changes up front and they’re going to be bringing a hell of a lot of emotion and physicality to this game.
“It’s a lot of weight up front with both teams so it’s going to be a great contest.”
Tupou produced a barn-storming performance off the bench to help turn the match Australia’s way, with a starting role his reward from coach Dave Rennie in the only change to the match-day 23. He replaces Allan Alaalatoa in the number three jersey.
The Wallabies v France series will be shown on TV across the Nine Network. The second Test between the Wallabies and France will be live on 9Gem on Tuesday night. The game will be ad-free, live and on demand, with extended coverage on Stan Sport.
This series will be the first rugby test shown on Stan Sport and Nine. Earlier this year, Stan Sport and Nine announced former Wallabies great David Campese and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika were joining its rugby commentary team. They join hosts and journalists Roz Kelly and Nick McArdle, former Wallabies Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui, Drew Mitchell, and Justin Harrison, in addition to All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens and former dual-code international star Allana Ferguson.
Wallabies v France Game Two, Tuesday 13 July, 7:30pm AEST at AAMI Park, Melbourne