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By Iain Payten
June 23, 2009 Flattery was deployed as France's first pre-Test weapon, with assistant coach Emile N'Tamack rating the Wallabies as a superior side to the All Blacks.
Despite attempts to talk themselves down for Saturday's clash, signs of French confidence aren't far beneath the surface as N'Tamack also revealed Les Bleus were "disappointed" to not beat the All Blacks twice and will only get better.
The world - and the Wallabies in particular - sat up and took notice of France's form in their just-completed New Zealand tour, where they upset the Kiwis in the first Test and lost by four points in the second.
Australia are braced for a Test with Tri-Nations intensity at ANZ Stadium but the French were quick to reclaim the wounded underdogs tag, saying they're heavily fatigued after a long northern season.
N'Tamack, a 46-Test Tricolour legend and French backs coach, cannily stirred some Trans-Tasman rivalry by declaring the Wallabies a better outfit than the All Blacks.
"It is a big game, maybe the hardest game we can have on this tour against maybe the toughest team," N'Tamack said.
"If you compare the All Black and Australian teams, the Wallabies are more ready to play well.
"They have their key players in key positions, like (Matt) Giteau. That's why I think they are better than the All Blacks at the moment.
"The All Black players are at a good level but without their great players like Dan Carter, (Sitiveni) Sivivatu, like (Richie) McCaw.
"For the Australian team it is different. They are strong."
After a poor Six Nations tournament, France looked a new team against the Kiwis with old-style Gallic physicality in contact and attacking flair out wide.
Only a try-saving tackle by second-rower Brad Thorn on Saturday in Wellington stopped New Zealand losing both Tests.
"It is always good when you have a victory over the (number) two, three, four best team in the world. For the French players it was great for their confidence. But we can't just finish like that," N'Tamack said.
Asked if his young team had any fear of the ANZ Stadium blockbuster, N'Tamack's confidence emerged.
"They are unafraid. It will be tough but we were very close last Saturday. That's why we are disappointed. When you can beat a team like the All Blacks you must take the opportunity," he said.
"I hope we can have the same opportunity against Australia on Saturday, and if we have it I hope the new experience we have now will be enough to take this game."
Bashing victim centre Matthieu Bastareaud was cleared of a fractured eye-socket but still flew home to France.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html