COACH Robbie Deans is taking a calculated gamble in the Test against France, but the risk is minimal and potential reward is great.

Deans' choice of three openside flankers -- George Smith, David Pocock and Phil Waugh -- in the 22-man squad means there is no reserve second-rower on the bench.

Blindside flanker Dean Mumm will provide cover for second-rowers Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill.
If Mumm is injured, number eight Richard Brown would have to move into the second row if a replacement was required.

As Brown is only 189cm and 103kg, this would hardly be an ideal situation.
The Wallabies found themselves in a similar situation in South Africa last year when blindside flanker Rocky Elsom played the last 10 minutes of a Test in the second row. But the long odds of this scenario recurring has given Deans the confidence to unleash his army of openside flankers on the French.

If Deans takes a punt on putting Mumm into the second row and playing Smith and Pocock, and maybe even Waugh, together, it will improve the Wallabies' chances of lifting the tempo and intensity towards the end of the game.

One of the Wallabies' failings last year was their inability to put teams away, particularly the All Blacks.

Twice, in Brisbane and Hong Kong, they had the All Blacks beaten at the 60-minute mark only to find themselves behind after 80 minutes.

Playing a mobile backrow in the final 20 minutes will help the Australians to be fitter and faster than the French in the decisive period of the game.

"Having Dean Mumm as a back-up second-rower allows you to have a faster, more mobile backrower on the bench," said Smith, who will be playing his 99th Test, making his debut against France in 2000. "I think the team they (Wallabies selectors) have selected is a great team and will do good things on the weekend.

"We expect it to be a very fast game and with the breakdown laws as they are, sometimes three openside breakaway specialists are what you need."

Before the Wallabies can look to dominate the final stanza of the game, they must apply more consistent pressure on the French.

A trend that has emerged in the matches this year has been lulls in their play, particularly in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

"You have ups and downs throughout the game," Smith said. "It's trying to get that consistency throughout the game and continue on an upward slope of putting teams away and being merciless when you are doing that.

"We have to learn to be on for the whole 80 minutes rather than having a lull just after half-time and not producing the points that you need to be producing when you are in an attacking position.

"It's a conscious thing that you have to think of when you are on the field and attending to those areas at the right time is crucial.

"We are a very fit side. It's about a consistent effort throughout the match and making sure the pressure is on the opposition team rather than in sections of the match."

Smith is bracing for a battle at the breakdown after the French exposed the All Blacks in that area in their drawn Test series.

"We just have to be effective in that area and don't allow them to make a nuisance of themselves," Smith said. "Hopefully, we'll keep them at bay and keep them disinterested.

"If you give a team an early sniff in that area, they will continue to do it throughout the game. You've got to snuff it out early and hope they don't come back at that area again."

France openside flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo described Smith as a "pain" at the breakdown, which the Australian took as a compliment.

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