France openside flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo says his Wallabies opponent George Smith is a "pain" but he means it in a nice way - we think.

Speaking through an interpreter at a team media session on Thursday, the 22-year-old Frenchman said Smith was a great player.

"I have been watching him since I was a kid," Ouedraogo said.

"He's very good in recycling ball. He's a real pain for the other team.

"He's very good. I really admire him.

"Playing against a player like Smith is great but I won't put more pressure on me because I am just so proud to be there.

"It is one of the keys of the game. Recycling the ball is very important."

Ouedraogo, who has played 16 Tests compared to Smith's 98, faces a phalanx of flankers from the Australian camp, with David Pocock and Phil Waugh named on the Wallabies bench.

"In the first half they will try to contest the lineouts. In the second half they will maybe bring in some tacklers," Ouedraogo said.

"I'm not the Australian coach but if he puts in another flanker (on the bench), he probably knows what he's doing."

France lock Romain Millo-Chluski says Les Bleus are smarting from their 18-13 defeat in Paris against the Wallabies in November 2008.

"This will be the second time I'm playing against the Australian team," said Millo-Chluski, who made his debut in 2005 but has played only eight Tests.

"The first time was last November in Paris. We lost.

"I'm preparing myself for a great game."

He says France's 14-10 loss in last week's second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington came partly through mistakes in the lineouts which need to be addressed before Saturday night's ANZ Stadium clash.

"In the second game, the New Zealand lineout gave us some problems," the 26-year-old lock said.

"Against Australia, we have to be perfectionists. They are very talented.

"They have good lifting players, good timing, they are jumping quite high.

"We knew from the beginning of the tour we were going to play two very good teams.

"So now it's Australia for the third game and we all want to finish well on this tour on Saturday."

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