Australia eye series sweep against France in Sydney

Australia take on France in Sydney on Saturday aiming to make it a clean sweep in the three-Test series.

The Wallabies have already won the series thanks to a comprehensive 50-23 success in Brisbane followed by a much closer 6-0 win in Melbourne.

Les Bleus were much improved for that clash and Australia head coach Ewen McKenzie is expecting another stiff test for his side, whom he wants to keep on improving.

He said: “You're always working towards that complete game where you find the balance between your intentions in attack and an impenetrable defence, and it has been pleasing to see the squad highlight those characteristics at different points across the past six games.

"Our desire is to always play an up-tempo brand of rugby and we've now scored 23 tries in the past six games, an average of almost four a game.

"Our defence has also been steadily improving with each match, culminating with a shut-out of the French in our most recent match in Melbourne.

"The challenge and what we are always aiming for is to put both together and that will be our goal when we return to afternoon rugby in Sydney on Saturday."

Debut

In team news, Waratahs lock Will Skelton will make his debut in one of two changes made to the Australian starting line-up.

The 22-year-old is given his chance ahead of James Horwill and is joined in the pack by Wycliff Palu, with the ‘Tahs No 8 having recovered from an ankle injury to replace Ben McCalman.

McKenzie has also tweaked his bench, with Scott Sio and Rob Horne coming into the squad.

France also make two changes to their starting line-up, with versatile back Hugo Bonneval and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo both recalled.

Bonneval, who started at full-back in the first Test in Brisbane, replaces Maxime Medard on the wing, while Ouedraogo gets the nod as openside flanker, with Yannick Nyanga dropping to the bench.

Australia: 15 Folau, 14 Ashley-Cooper, 13 Kuridrani, 12 Toomua, 11 Cummins, 10 Foley, 9 White, 1 Slipper, 2 Polota-Nau, 3 Kepu, 4 Simmons, 5 Skelton, 6 Fardy, 7 Hooper (capt), 8 Palu.
Replacements: 16 Charles, 17 Sio, 18 Weeks, 19 Horwill, 20 McCalman, 21 Phipps, 22 Beale, 23 Horne.

France: 15 Dulin, 14 Huget, 13 Bastareaud, 12 Fofana, 11 Bonneval, 10 Tales, 9 Parra, 1 Menini, 2 Guirado, 3 Slimani, 4 Flanquart, 5 Maestri, 6 Dusautoir (capt), 7 Ouedraogo, 8 Chouly.
Replacements: 16 Tolofua, 17 Debaty, 18 Mas, 19 Le Roux, 20 Picamoles, 21 Nyanga, 22 Machenaud, 23 Lamerat.

Watch Australia v France live on Sky Sports 1HD at 6am on Saturday.