Australia vs France Preview & Prediction | 2026 Nations Championship | Round 2
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Suncorp Stadium plays host to Australia vs France, with both sides looking to respond to narrow defeats in their respective Nations Championship openers.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – RugbyPass TV
Australia team news: Gordon & Donaldson both out injured
Squad: Wright; Jorgensen, Suaalii, Ikitau, Pietsch; Meredith, Lonergan; Wilson (capt), McReight, Valetini; Williams, Canham; Alaalatoa, Nasser, Bell
Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Tupou, Shaw, Champion de Crespigny, McDermott, Campbell, Daugunu
France team news: Plenty of changes as Top 14 finalists arrive
Squad: Jalibert, Attissogbe, Brau-Boirie, Moefana, Grandidier-Nkanang, Ntamack, Lucu (c), Gazzotti, Jégou, Nouchi, Meafou, Verhaeghe, Bamba, Mauvaka, Alo-Emile
Replacements: Lamothe, Poirot, Tatafu, Auradou, Staniforth, Tixeront, Le Garrec, Gourgues
Australia vs France prediction
There were some positives from an Australia point of view in Sydney last week, despite ultimately ending up on the wrong end of an agonising 33-31 defeat to Ireland.
The Wallabies were undoubtedly the better side for significant portions of the match and were leading against the visitors before letting their opponents back in. They had a chance to snatch it via a last-gasp Ben Donaldson penalty, but the replacement fly-half's effort was wide of the posts.
France were also narrow losers in an enthralling Nations Championship curtain-raiser against New Zealand in Christchurch last weekend.
Les Bleus fought magnificently against the All Blacks in a 34-32 defeat, and the Six Nations champions will be determined to claim their first win of the new tournament on Saturday.
Although they are still missing the influential Antoine Dupont through injury, France are able to call upon more talent this week with the Top 14 finalists having joined the camp, and we see them having too much for Australia in Brisbane.
Australia vs France tip: France to win
