Preview: France v Pacific Islands
Live wire: Fulgence Ouedraogo
As was the case against Argentina last week, France's starting XV will see a couple of familiar faces in the opposing line-up when they host the Pacific Islanders in Sochaux on Saturday.
However, unlike last week's kick-fest, we should be treated to some opening, running rugby, true to the traditions of both the hosts and visitors.
Unentertaining as last Saturday's match against the Pumas was, it did show just how France have 'matured' since the start of the Marc Lièvremont era. Gone is the naivety of the "run it from everywhere" suicide rugby that we saw during last year's Six Nations, though at some stages of the clash in Marseilles, it would have made a welcome change.
Les Bleus are not the only ones making progress either. The Islanders have never won a Test but with the amount of talent and sheer firepower in the their team, it's just a matter of time before the West Indies of rugby finally bag a big scalp.
It's never easy to get a composite side to gel, especially with limited preperation time, but every game they play together will bring the Islanders closer to that elusive first win. An week extra together since they lost to England at Twickenham would have done no harm, as Lièvremont has pointed out.
Of course the Islanders do not represent one 'nation' and thus do not have the same pressure to produce results. When the going gets tough on a chilly winter's day in le Doubs in North-East France you can't help but question if they'll dig as deep as they would if they were playing in their respective national strips.
What the Islanders lack in familiarity with their team-mates, they may make up in familiarity with their opponents this weekend. No less than seven players in the white-clad run on team play their rugby in France. As an example, feast your eyes on the battle between Perpignan props Nicolas Mas and Kisi Pulu.
But the visitors will have to concentrate on playing as a unit rather than individuals. Their biggest arm - counter attacking - can be their biggest flaw when they try go it alone. An isolated Islander will be like a injured seal in deep-ocean feeding frenzy as the French will be targeting the breakdowns after a lacklustre performance there last week.
For France, this game is the next step in a rebuilding process that has already seen the foundations laid, and the walls starting to grow. By making minimal changes to their side, the French coaching staff have stuck to the premise that continuity will be the way forward from here.
Another solid performance from David Skrela at fly-half could see him sneak back into the first-choice role through the back door after initially being left out of the squad while Lionel Nallet will get another chance to give his old legs a run as he regains full match fitness.
It's been fourteen years since La XV de France played in the North-East, and this is their first visit to Sochaux, where in icy-cold conditions football of the round-ball kind is usually the order of the day. Don't expect the brave rugby-deprived fans who turn up on Saturday to give the lads from the South Pacific a warm welcome.
Ones to watch:
For France: After being one of France's best players last week, Louis Picamoles must have been disappointed to be demoted to the bench. Marc Lièvremont's explanation for picking Fulgence Ouedraogo confirms Les Bleus intention to more play open rugby this week. Ouedraogo gets around the park like few others, not only with ball in hand, but by hunting down anyone who dares sneak around the fringes. You won't have enough fingers to count the tackles he'll make.
For Pacific Islands: Hale T-Pole had an awesome World Cup for Tonga, but since moving to the Ospreys hasn't done much to impress. Against opposition a step up from the EDF Cup, this could be his chance to get back on the radar.
Head to head: If the ball gets out to the wings as much as we expect/hope it will, there should be some fireworks along the touchlines as some of the most devastating runners in world rugby are on display. It'll look like a Clermont reunion party out wide when Fijians Napolioni Nalaga and Vilimoni Delasau come to grips with Julien Malzieu and Cedric Heymans. Nalaga and Malzieu are current team-mates in the Auvergne and Delasau left to join Montauban just a few months ago. While the Fijian duo are like human steam trains once they've gathered some speed, Heymans is probably the most unpredictable runner around when things get loose.
But it might not be what the wings do with ball in hand that makes or breaks the game on Saturday. If ever there was a chink in the Islanders' armor it's their defence against a strong kicking game at the back. France's back three have none of these problems - how well the Islanders cope when Heymans and co. put ball to boot will be vital.
Recent results:
These teams have never met before.
Prediction: Tough not to give the home side the edge. The Islanders will score tries, but David Skrela's boot might do some influential talking. France to win by fifteen points.
The Teams:
France: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Benoît Baby, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Imanol Harnordoquy, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Lionel Nallet (c), 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements:16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Benoît Lecouls, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 21 Damien Traille, 22 Alexis Palisson.
Pacific Islands: 15 Gavin Williams (SAM), 14 Napolioni Nalaga (FIJ), 13 Seru Rabeni (FIJ), 12 Epi Taione (TGA), 11 Vilimoni Delasau (FIJ), 10 Seremaia Bai (FIJ), 9 Mosese Rauluni (FIJ, cap), 8 Nili Latu (TGA), 7 Sisa Koyamaibole (FIJ), 6 Hale T-Pole (TGA), 5 Kele Leawere (FIJ), 4 Paino Hehea (TGA), 3 Kisi Pulu (TGA), 2 Tanielu Fuga (SAM), 1 Kas Lealamanua (SAM).
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto (FIJ), 17 Census Johnston (SAM), 18 Filipo Levi (SAM), 19 Viliami Vaki (TGA), 20 Sililo Martens (TGA), 21 Kameli Ratuvou (FIJ), 22 Seilala Mapusua (SAM)
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Stade Auguste Bonal, Sochaux
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Ireland)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
By Ross Hastie