Australia vs France Prediction: Injuries hit low-confidence Wallabies

Having fallen to a fifth straight Test defeat last weekend, things don’t get any easier for Australia as they prepare to face France in Brisbane on Saturday (8:30am BST, live on ITV1).

The Wallabies have won just one of their last nine matches and having to deal with mounting injuries is far from ideal, when you are coming up against the back-to-back Six Nations champions. France ran New Zealand close in their first Nations Championship clash and go into this second match as strong favourites.

*Click here for the latest Rugby Union Odds

Australia vs France Odds

Australia, who have lost their last three Tests played on home soil, can be backed at 2/1 to win in Brisbane.

Six Nations champions France are available at 2/5 to claim their first victory of the tournament, while the draw is priced at 22/1.

Team News

Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson both picked up calf injuries against Ireland, so coach Joe Schmidt has called up ACT Brumbies’ Declan Meredith to play at fly-half.

The uncapped Meredith becomes the 13th Wallabies player to wear the number 10 shirt in the last decade.

The only other change to last week’s starting XV sees Brumbies man Tom Wright replace Jock Campbell at full-back.

In contrast, France have been boosted by the arrival Down Under of their Top 14 finalists including Romain Ntamack.

Having fallen just short against the All Blacks, Fabien Galthie has made several changes to his side.

Ntamack comes in at fly-half with Matthieu Jalibert moving to full-back, while Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang makes his Test debut on the wing.

Stade Francais’ Moses Alo-Emile makes his debut at loosehead prop and both locks change from last week, with Florian Verhaeghe and Emmanuel Meafou starting.

Handicap 3-Way - France -8 @ 10/11

You have to go back to 2021 for the last time Australia beat France, a 33-30 success in Brisbane, but since then the two teams look to have gone in opposite directions.

The Wallabies have had seven coaches since that success and even current coach Joe Schmidt has a losing record (11-17) since taking the helm in 2024.

The French showed what they are capable of in Christchurch, coming on strong late in the game to lose by just two points against the All Blacks.

In the last two meetings between the teams, both in France, Les Bleus have beaten the -8 handicap figure, after winning by 24 and 15 points.

Double Result - Australia / France @ 11/2

It is worth noting that Australia were 24-19 ahead at the break against Ireland, with Andy Farrell’s men fighting back in the second half to take the spoils. With the Wallabies desperate to end this losing run, don’t be surprised to see them come out of the blocks quickly, especially with the home crowd behind them. France also scored 19 of their 32 points against New Zealand in the second half and their more experienced squad could take a grip of the game after half time.