Wallabies won't go snail-paced in France
November 18, 2008 - 6:16am
Story by: AAP
The steely-eyed Wallabies insist there's no chance of complacency creeping into their game in Saturday night's Test against France in Paris.
Lock Nathan Sharpe, who produced one of his finest performances for his country in last Saturday's stirring victory over England, says the Wallabies still have everything to play for against a French outfit sure to be smarting from a 2-0 series defeat in Australia earlier this year.
"They'll be up for this game, for sure," Sharpe said on Monday.
"We got a couple of wins against them in Australia this year and they obviously probably consider that not their full strength side. I think they had four teams worth of players not available for selection.
"So they'll want to turn the table around. No one likes to go away on tour and not return the favour when the opposition comes to visit your home."
And while the Wallabies are desperate to maintain the roll after their back-to-back wins over Italy and England, Les Bleus are also shooting for three straight after downing Argentina and the Pacific Islanders in successive weeks.
Sharpe, though, has no doubts the Wallabies will also be up for challenge having spoken at length this tour about the importance of stringing together strong performances.
"The consistency is starting to come and this weekend is a great chance for us to prove that because, again, it's a massive Test for us here playing in Paris against France," he said.
"It can set this tour up to be a very successful one for us, so it's all in front of us again.
"The big key is that we had a good performance on the weekend and that, on a long tour, certainly buoys spirits.
"There's also the fact that a lot of guys here who haven't played at Stade de France.
"I know I haven't played there before - I've only ever played in Marseille when we've come here - so I'm excited about that in its own right."
Fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, who scored the match-winning try at Twickenham, says the squad can see the finish line for the first time on the Wallabies' longest tour of the professional era.
"Three Tests played, another three to go. So it feels really good, but still there's a lot of work to be done," he said.
"It was such a significant win on the weekend against England, but it means absolutely nothing if we don't go and back it up this weekend against France."
Coach Robbie Deans will name his team later on Monday, with few changes expected from the side which beat England.
Hugh McMeniman is set to move into the second row, replacing Mark Chisholm, with Dean Mumm in line to start as blindside flanker.
Deans is weighing up whether to start Wycliff Palu at No.8 or stick with Richard Brown, who suffered finger and knee injuries against England.
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© 2008 AAP
By Darren Walton
