Philippe Saint-Andre

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre spoke of the ‘panic’ in his team, but it appears he may well be ready to hit the panic-button himself.

Saint-Andre made it clear he will wield the axe as France seek to keep their three-Test series alive against Australia in Melbourne next week.

Les Bleus were outclassed by a rampant Australia, who won 50-23 in the opening Test in Brisbane ate the weekend – with the Wallabies scoring seven tries.

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France were without a number of key players, including captain Thierry Dusautoir and No.8 Louis Picamoles, and Saint-Andre said there would definitely be changes for the second Test.

“We will try very hard in training this week to have a much, much better match in Melbourne,” he said.

Other players likely to come into selection reckoning are playmaker Remi Tales, centre Mathieu Bastareaud, fullback Brice Dulin, scrumhalf Morgan Parra and wing Maxime Medard.

Saint-Andre wants more “ferocity and aggression” from his team, particularly given Les Bleus missed 35 tackles in the Brisbane Test.

“We have to work hard on our tackling technique this week,” he said.

“Some new players will start. We will have a team with a better foundation and more experience.”

“Some players showed their limits. At this level, you pay for every mistake.”

“I am not the first coach of a team to let in 50 points in the Southern Hemisphere, but this one gives me a headache.”

The French have not won in Australia for 24 years, with their last victory in Brisbane in 1972.