Wallabies Smith enjoys French connection

Wallabies flanker George Smith is yellow carded against France in Paris in 2000, the last time the Men of Gold won against Les Bleus in France.

Born on Bastille Day and having made his international debut against France the last time Australia beat Les Bleus on home soil makes Saturday night's Test (Sunday morning 7am AEDT) in Paris extra special for Wallabies flanker George Smith.

"Yeah, I've got that French connection there, a nice little connection, so I've always enjoyed playing against France," Smith said after Wallabies training on Thursday.

Smith, though, hasn't enjoyed playing in France in recent years, with the Wallabies finishing on the wrong side of the scoreboard on their last three visits since scoring an 18-13 victory in Paris eight years ago.

It must have seemed so easy for Smith back then.

But subsequent defeats in Marseille in 2001 and 2005 and Paris in 2004 have sobered the 94-Test veteran somewhat.

"The feeling after losing that game in '04, the boys weren't feeling too good," he said.

"But it's more about this team rather than what's happened in the past.

"Obviously you recognise what's happened in the past, but the French are always a different team when you do play them on home soil.

"I guess they feed off the energy of the crowd. In Paris, they always have very parochial crowds in that they're vocal and they always support their team in tough circumstances.

"So it's going to be a tough game for us and for us to back up after the English Test (victory last Saturday) is crucial.

"It would be a nice reward for the guys who have trained so hard on this tour so far.

"To play well against the French and beat them in Paris would be great."

Along with Smith, skipper Stirling Mortlock and reserve halfback Sam Cordingley are the only three survivors from the triumphant Wallabies team from Paris in 2000.

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