France vs Australia LIVE: Result and reaction after Wallabies thrashed in Paris

That Fiji performance at Twickenham yesterday would have put their Pool C foes on notice, Simon Raiwalui’s side deserved winners even with a couple of key men absent to show they are genuine quarter final contenders. Australia face the Pacific Islanders on the second weekend of the tournament in Saint-Etienne after opening up against Georgia in Paris.

It’s been a tough start to Eddie Jones’s second stint in charge of the Wallabies, who arrived in France last week having lost four from four under their head coach. While a young-skewing squad won’t carry with it too much in the way of psychological baggage, they’ll need a good showing tonight, you’d think, to enter the World Cup with any kind of optimism.

I like the look of this well balanced Australian pack, though, with Taniela Tupou’s return from a rib issue welcome, and Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini’s skills complementary across the back row. Jones has the makings of a side that can play his preferred power game, particularly when Samu Kerevi returns at 12, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Wallabies’ gameplan has developed since that tight defeat in the second Bledisloe Cup test.

It’s a strong Australia side, with Will Skelton skippering the side for the first time after being confirmed as Eddie Jones’s World Cup captain. Taniela Tupou is fit to return at tighthead in a pack that almost certainly closely resembles the one Jones intends to use when the tournament begins.

Behind the scrum, neither Samu Kerevi nor Marika Koroibete is included, with Suliasi Vunivalu getting an opportunity to stake a claim on the wing and Lalakai Foketi partnering Jordan Petaia in the centres. Two debutants lurk on the bench in the form of looshead Blake Schoupp and scrum half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, with Jones matching France with a six/two split.

Australia XV: Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Taniela Tupou; Richie Arnold, Will Skelton (capt.); Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon; Suliasi Vunivalu, Lalakai Foketi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase; Andrew Kellaway.

Replacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Langi Gleeson; Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Ben Donaldson.

France are at close to full strength for their final warm-up fixture, with Fabien Galthie keen for his side to sharpen up before the tournament. With Cyril Baille set to miss a few more weeks yet with his calf issue, Jean-Baptiste Gros will fulfil the loosehead brief, while Francois Cros continues in the back row with Anthony Jelonch moving closer to fitness after tearing his ACL in the spring.

Matthieu Jalibert, Galthie’s presumed fly half starter after Romain Ntamack’s injury, slots in at ten, while there’s a six/two split on the bench. The six forwards include the two Taofifenua brothers, with squad member and lock Romain joined by loosehead Sebastien, who did not make the World Cup cut but is required with Baille injured and Reda Wardi rested.

France XV: Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio; Thibaud Flament, Paul Willemse; Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt; Antoine Dupont (capt.), Matthieu Jalibert; Gabin Villiere, Jonathan Danty, Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud; Thomas Ramos.

Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Sebastien Taofifenua, Dorian Aldegheri, Romain Taofifenua, Cameron Woki, Paul Boudehent; Baptiste Couilloud, Melvyn Jaminet.

There’s been plenty for Eddie Jones to contend with since re-taking the Wallabies wheel, the head coach battling issues on and off the pitch. Australia flew into France last week reeling from the sudden exit of assistant coach Brad Davis, with Jason Ryles, briefly an England lieutenant under Jones, brought in at short notice to oversee their attack at the World Cup.

But on to today’s proceedings, with kick off not much more than an hour away. The Stade de France is set to be pretty much full to the rafters with the Paris public very much behind their home favourites are ready to send them off into the tournament in style.

And Pool B is brewing rather wonderfully, with Scotland overcoming a slow start to put Georgia to the sword, and South Africa simply untouchable at Twickenham on Friday night.

From southwest London to southwest France, where Ireland were given a real fright by an impressive Samoa. Andy Farrell is due to confirm his World Cup squad this afternoon - but will Cian Healy be fit enough to make the 33 after suffering an injury in Bayonne?

Fiji, remember, are in Pool C with Australia, Wales, Georgia and Portugal - and on that evidence, who would bet against Simon Rawailui’s team making at least a quarter final?

England, meanwhile, have problems aplenty, as George Ford admitted last night

And let’s start at the creaking home of English rugby, with Fiji more than meriting a little more shine after an outstanding performance to plunge Steve Borthwick’s side further into the mire.

It is now just 12 days until France and New Zealand get things started in Paris on what should be a thrilling opening night, but there’s one final pre-tournament aperitif for the Stade de France to enjoy. Australia are in town hoping to end their drought under Eddie Jones and shake things up ahead of the World Cup - and you fancy Jones and his staff would have been interested observers of events at Twickenham yesterday...