Wallabies v France LIVE updates: Meredith debuts at 10 at sold-out Suncorp Stadium

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For the second time this week Caxton Street is full and rocking, but let’s hope it’s a different result for the dominant group of fans who are having a cheeky XXXX before this game.

The walk to Suncorp Stadium from Brisbane CBD is a great primer for a big Test match but for the last two Test matches here, the Aussie fans were visibly outnumbered. No exaggeration.
In 2024, the sea of green Springbok jerseys began in the city and washed all the way into the stands, where Australians were a minority group of fans.

Last year, the red hordes of Lions fans were almost as ominpresent; and they had a big presence in Suncorp too.
Both results weren’t ideal for the Wallabies.

But this year? Perhaps a sold-out Suncorp chock full of gold jerseys will help the home side finally get up.

Fun fact: the Wallabies have never lost to France at Suncorp.

There are three Australian origin players in the French squad tonight, loosehead prop Moses Alo-Emile, Emmanuel Meafou and on the bench Tom Staniforth.

Iain Payten worked out how three Aussies ended up lining out for les Bleus here.

The big switch Romain NTamack starts at 10 with Jalibert switched to 15, the last time he played there was 2021. Given how much havoc Mack Hansen caused the Wallabies in November with a hat trick as a second playmaker, this is seriously dangerous.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt referenced the curse of the number 10 jersey and it’s hard to disagree with him.

Declan Meredith will desperately hope that his familarity with the Brumbies, in half back Ryan Lonergan, centre Len Ikitau and fullback Tom Wright helps on a seriously daunting Test debut, facing not one, but two world-class five-eights in Romain Ntamack and the mercurcial Matthieu Jalibert.

Apart from the changes in half back and Jock Campbell moving to the bench, there is a settled look for this team that will desperately hope for a big win.

Bon soiree to all who believe in Australian rugby,

It’s Jonathan Drennan with you tonight and I cannot wait to take you through tonight’s game.

We have two experienced scribes at Suncorp Stadium in Tom Decent and Iain Payten, two men who know their way around a Wallabies Test week, something that cannot be said about debutant Declan Meredith.

More on that soon, but sit back and get ready for what promises to be a thriller between these two teams tonight.