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Preview: Internationals

Friday, November 27 France hasn't stopped celebrating its win over the All Blacks in June.

France used that first win on New Zealand soil in 15 years - 27-22 in Dunedin - to believe it was back on the road to respectability, and it could face down the Southern Hemisphere rugby powers. Two weeks ago, the French cited the victory as inspiration before playing South Africa, and duly outmuscled the Tri-Nations champion 20-13 in Toulouse.

Armed with another impressive win, 43-5 against Samoa last weekend, French confidence is high and charged about ending a nine-year drought at home against the All Blacks on Saturday.

They're even back at the venue of that last home win in 2000, the intimate Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

"I hope all the players realize what's at stake," said France coach Marc Lievremont.

The other blockbuster match of the weekend pits Ireland against the Springboks, who could redeem a disastrous tour with a win against the European champion at Croke Park.

That's where Australia's first Grand Slam bid in 25 years died a fortnight ago, and after a first loss to Scotland in 27 years, the Wallabies believe their own tour will be judged less harshly if they can beat Wales in Cardiff.

Elsewhere, Scotland hosts Argentina, Italy takes on Samoa, Portugal meets Tonga for the first time, Namibia plays Tunisia for a World Cup berth, and Canada welcomes first-time visitor Russia.

Though 11 of the France lineup which won at Carisbrook are starters again, none believe victory will be as convincing as it was five months ago. That's because the All Blacks are at full-strength, and have back influential captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Dan Carter, who missed that drawn June series with injuries.

The All Blacks have beaten Australia, Wales, Italy and England on successive Saturdays and gone through Europe with a clean tryline, though without the fear they induced on their Grand Slam tour of the Home Unions a year ago.

"They are a complete team once more. Their squad is full of confidence," Lievremont said.

"We still feel like we can compete. We will put in an outstanding game against them."

The All Blacks are equally desperate to end a mediocre year on a high.

"Over the last six years we've done the European tour four times with two Grand Slams, and we're very proud of our record here," coach Graham Henry said. "Other sides have tried to emulate that and haven't done so and it just shows you it's not easy.

"We're proud of what we've achieved this tour, (and) we'd like to add a bit of finish to what we're doing."

While the injury-ravaged Springboks are hobbling into their tour finale, fans consider the return of captain John Smit to hooker from tighthead prop and BJ Botha's start there as blessings in disguise. Injuries forced the pair to finish last week's win over Italy, along with loosehead Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira, and the Boks scrum gave its best performance yet on a miserable tour.

Added to the recalls of lock Victor Matfield and flanker Schalk Burger, the Boks appear to have a scrum and foundation that edges the home side.

"I don't believe for a second that South Africa won't be at their best because it's the end of a long season," Ireland flanker David Wallace said.

"They'll be very aware of what's at stake in the game and that it's being billed as the best of the Northern Hemisphere against the best of the Southern Hemisphere."

Ireland will be trying for a third straight win over the Boks without their deadliest kicker, Ronan O'Gara, who has been demoted to the reserves for a better look at the latest assumed heir, Jonathan Sexton, who had a fine debut against Fiji.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was under no illusion that Australia was down after the draw with Ireland and rare defeat to Scotland.

"As a team, Australia have been quite unlucky," he said. "They could easily have been playing for a Grand Slam this weekend.

"My experience of Australian teams in the past is when they are in this situation and taken a bit of criticism, there is normally only one way they come out - with all guns blazing."

Gatland brought in only scrumhalf Dwayne Peel for Gareth Cooper, leaving nine of his lineup to start all four of their tests this month.

The Wallabies need a win, with only two in their last 10 tests and Robbie Deans, their first foreign coach, under public pressure despite backing this week from Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill.

"This match is a big test of our collective character as a group," Deans said.

Scotland will be out to beat the Pumas at home for the first time since 1990, and Italy will be seeking their first ever win over Samoa after three defeats, the last in 2001.

Italy v Samoa - Ascoli (16:00 SA time)

Teams:

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Josh Sole, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Simon Piccone, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Alberto Sgarbi.

Samoa: 15 Titi Esau, 14 Henry Fa'fili, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Seilala Mapasua, 11 David Lemi, 10 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Ofisa Treviranus, 6 George Stowers (captain), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Justin Va'a, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Census Johnson
Replacements: 16 Andrew Williams, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Jonny Fa'amatuainu,, 19 Misioka Tomoteo, 20 Semiperive Semeane, 21 Uale Mai, 22 Lucky Munipola

SARugby.com Prediction: Italy by 5.

Scotland v Argentina - Murrayfield (16:30 SA time)

Teams:

Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Alex Grove, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Cusiter (captain), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jason White, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Nick De Luca.

Argentina: 15 Horacio Agulla, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Martin Rodriguez, 11 Federico Martin Aramburu, 10 Santiago Fernandez, 9 Alfredo Lalanne, 8 Juan Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 7 Alejandro Abadie, 6 Alejandro Campos, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Martin Scelzo, 2 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Rodrigo Roncero, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Tomas Leonardi, 20 Agustin Figuerola, 21 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 22 Horacio San Martin

SARugby.com Prediction: Scotland by 4.

Wales v Australia - Millenium Stadium (19:15)

Teams:

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Paul James, 3 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Dan Lydiate, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Tom James

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Quade Cooper, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Dean Mumm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 George Smith, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 James O'Connor, 21 Kurtley Beale.

SARugby.com Prediction: Australia by 7.

France v New Zealand - Marseille (21:45 SA time)

Teams:

France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Sébastien Chabal, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 William Servat, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Nicolas Mas, 18 Lionel Nallet, 19 Julien Puricelli, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Yann David, 22 Cédric Heymans.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Luke McAlister.

SARugby.com Prediction: France by 3.

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