Why Australia could be left feeling blue by Les Bleus

Of all of the Six Nations teams, France will be the most dangerous touring side.

Northern champions Wales are reeling from injuries; England are sending an interim coaching team with their mixed confidence squad and Martin Johnson has not worked any miracles yet; Ireland still need picking up from the canvas, and super coach Declan Kidney will be committed still to Munster; Scotland and Frank Hadden are on death row; and the Italians are still the weakest of the Big Six.

Meanwhile, in the South, the Pumas are at their strongest after a World Cup bronze - even a development team will trouble the Scottish. The Spingboks are world champions and a weakened Welsh team won’t beat them on home soil. And, despite a large player exodus, the All Blacks are still the All Blacks and should have no trouble extending their four-year unbeaten home run against an irresolute England.

But the Wallabies, despite having new wonder coach Robbie Deans, are realistically the weakest of the Southern teams. The French tour of Australia will be a deadly litmus test for Deans' new outfit.