2021 France rugby union tour of Australia explained

Tour:	2021 France rugby union tour of Australia
Coach:	Fabien Galthié
Captain:	Anthony Jelonch
Matchplayed:	3
Matchwon:	1
Matchdraw:	0
Matchlost:	2
Testplayed:	3
Testwon:	1
Testdraw:	0
Testlost:	2
Played1:	3
Won1:	1
Draw1:	0
Lost1:	2
Previous:	New Zealand 2018

In July 2021, France played a three-test series against Australia as part of the 2021 July International window.^[1] The series was played in a condensed window of 11 days, due to French club commitments and a Covid-19 hotel quarantine period for the visitors.^[2] This was France's first tour to Australia since 2014 and their first encounter since November 2016.

Fixtures

Date	Venue	Home	Score	Away
7 July 2021	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane		23–21
13 July 2021	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne		26–28
17 July 2021	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane		33–30

Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 7 July, the first test match of the tour.

France

On 20 June 2021, Galthié named a 42-man squad for France's three-test series against Australia.^[3]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Fabien Galthié
• Forwards coach: William Servat
• Backs coach: Laurent Labit
• Defence coach: Shaun Edwards

Australia

A 38-man Wallabies squad was named for the 2021 series against France on 13 June 2021.^[4]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Dave Rennie
• Forwards coach: Dan McKellar
• Backs coach: Scott Wisemantel
• Defence coach: Matt Taylor

Matches

First test

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 OC 13 Hunter Paisami IC 12 Matt To'omua LW 11 Marika Koroibete FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 N8 8 BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 Rob Valetini RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 Len Ikitau WG 23 Coach: Dave Rennie

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FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Arthur Vincent IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Louis Carbonel SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Anthony Jelonch (c) BF 6 Dylan Cretin RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Anthony Bouthier Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Damon Murphy (Australia) Television match official: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Florent Vanverberghe (France) had been named on the bench, but withdrew the day before the game due to injury and was replaced by Cyril Cazeaux.
• Andrew Kellaway Lachlan Lonergan and Darcy Swain (all Australia) and Gaëtan Barlot, Anthony Étrillard, Sipili Falatea, Teddy Iribaren, Melvyn Jaminet and Quentin Walcker (all France) made their international debuts.

Second test

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 Marika Koroibete FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 N8 8 Harry Wilson BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 Rob Valetini RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Coach: Dave Rennie

valign=top

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Arthur Vincent IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Louis Carbonel SH 9 N8 8 Anthony Jelonch (c) OF 7 Cameron Woki BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 LK 20 FL 21 SH 22 FB 23 Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Damon Murphy (Australia) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Len Ikitau (Australia) and Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Ibrahim Diallo, Enzo Forletta and Wilfrid Hounkpatin (all France) made their international debuts.
• France win in Australia for the first time since their 28–19 victory in Sydney in the final test of their 1990 tour.

Third test

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 OC 13 Len Ikitau IC 12 LW 11 FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 N8 8 BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 Darcy Swain TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 FB 23 Coach: Dave Rennie

valign=top

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi IC 12 Arthur Vincent LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 Baptiste Couilloud N8 8 Anthony Jelonch (c) OF 7 Cameron Woki BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 Teddy Iribaren FB 22 CE 23 Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Cyril Cazeaux (France) was named to start but withdrew ahead of the game and was replaced by Pierre-Henri Azagoh. Baptiste Pesenti replaced Azagoh on the bench.
• Alexandre Bécognée, Antoine Hastoy and Julien Hériteau (all France) made their international debuts.
• Australia retain the Trophée des Bicentenaires.
• Australia win a home test-series for the first time since France last toured to Australia in 2014.

See also

• 2021 July rugby union tests

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wallabies announce three-Test series with France. 6 May 2021. rugby.com.au. 7 May 2021.
2. Web site: Wallabies to host France in condensed biosecure Test series . 7 May 2021 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129030327/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/07/wallabies-to-host-france-in-condensed-july-test-series . 29 November 2022 . live .
3. https://www.ffr.fr/actualites/xv-de-france/le-groupe-pour-laustralie Le groupe pour l’Australie
4. News: Wallabies announce 38-man squad for France. Rugby.com.au. 13 June 2021. 13 June 2021.