White: Odds against the French
2005-06-30 14:01
Brisbane, Australia - The odds are stacked against the tired French team in their season-ending rugby international against Australia here on Saturday, said South African coach Jake White.
The Springboks touched down on Thursday ahead of their Mandela Cup Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on July 9.
White has a first-hand view of the French with the Springboks having played two back-to-back internationals against Les Bleus over the last two weekends in South Africa.
France drew 30-30 with the Springboks in Durban on June 18 and went down 27-13 in the return encounter in Port Elizabeth last weekend before travelling on to Australia.
White believes Bernard Laporte's team are feeling the pinch after an arduous season and will find life difficult against the fresher Wallabies, who have encountered little opposition in huge wins over Samoa and Italy.
"You can see that they are at the end of a long season," White said here on Thursday.
"A guy like (flanker) Remy Martin has played 41 games this year.
"When you put that into context - any person who plays 41 games in one season and then goes on a tour to South Africa for two Tests and then to Australia for another Test match - I think the odds are definitely stacked against the French team."
Eight changes
France have made eight changes from the last South African Test, but White is not expected to follow suit when he picks the Springbok team to face the Australians.
"I've only had the job for the year, I'm trying to get combinations and a settled team," White said.
"I think with the amount of players we changed in the years before me - I think the first goal was to try and get a settled squad.
"The plan now is for me to look at the Under-19s, 21s and look at which players we think will be in the World Cup in 2007."
The Springboks play Australia four times this year, the first two matches for the Mandela Cup, the second two for the Tri Nations.
The South Africans have not won in Australia since 1998.