Australia v France: second international rugby union Test – live!

“Il fair froid!” said a member of France’s squad when he ran out of the AAMI Park tunnel for his side’s captain’s run. And he’s not wrong, it is cold in Melbourne. Temperatures will be around 11C at kick-off, but they’ll feel even fresher with a chilly northerly breeze. It’s been dry all day, and should remain that way throughout the 80 minutes, although there is a slight risk of a shower much later on.

And in other international rugby news, the Lions tour is going far from swimmingly.

In other Australian rugby news, apparently 20 years of residency and 70 caps for the Wallabies isn’t enough to make a bloke a citizen.

Bret Harris paid close attention to the opening Test and reckons for a side like the Wallabies, at this stage of their development, a win’s a win.

By contrast, France have rung the changes, making five changes, all in the pack. Prop Wilfrid Hounkpatin and lock Pierre-Henri Azagoh will make their debuts, Cyril Cazeaux also comes into the second row, while Cameron Woki and Ibrahim Diallo will pack down at the back of the scrum.

Of Azagoh, coach Fabien Galthié said: “He plays in the shadows, he’s a worker, very active who shows a lot of intelligence and doesn’t play for himself. He can be another revelation on this tour.”

The backline remains the same with Galthié keen to expose his inexperienced group to the pressure of Test rugby.

Surprisingly perhaps, given the compressed series, Dave Rennie has selected an unchanged matchday squad. These is one alteration to the starting XV though with Taniela Tupou rewarded for his impact as a substitute in game one with a spot in the front row. He pushes Alan Alaalatoa to the interchange. “Taniela made a real impact on both sides of the ball when he came on in at Suncorp Stadium and we’ll be looking for him to do the same from the get-go in Melbourne,” Rennie said.

James O’Connor is now fit and available for selection, but Rennie is taking no risks this early in the international season.