It will be the first time the two nations from opposite ends of the earth have played each other in the final of rugby's biggest tournament -- but the two countries are building up a formidable sporting rivalry.

France roared back from a 14-point deficit to beat tournament favourites New Zealand 43-31 in the semi-finals and earn their meeting with Australia, who ousted defending champions South Africa on Saturday.

Australia have won their last four rugby tests against the French and have conceded just one try in five matches in the tournament so far, but captain John Eales H as warned his players to beware of the French flair.

Australia squad
SYDNEY: Australian cricket selectors announced yesterday the 12-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan starting inBrisbane on Friday, with Adam Gilchrist replacing retired wicket-keeper Ian Healy.

Team: Steve Waugh (capt), Shane Warne (vice-capt), Michael Slater, Greg Blewett, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Fleming, Colin Miller, Scott Muller, Glenn McGrath

Hayden, Law excel
BRISBANE: Queensland's Matthew Hayden and Stuart Law punished the Pakistan attack by hammeringcenturies on the third day of their four-day cricket match today.

Brief scores: Queensland 274 (A Symonds 78, J Maher 70, Mushtaq Ahmed 4-103) and 318-5 (M Hayden 128, S Law 100; Azhar Mahmood 2-58, Mushtaq Ahmed 2-119) vs Pakistan 276 (Azhar Mahmood 83, Moin Khan 70, A Dale 5-58)

Tiger mauls field
HOUSTON: Tiger Woods won the Tour Championship a four-shot victory over David Love III. On a day when most of the players in the 29-man field wore knickers to honour the memory of Payne Stewart, Woods fired a final-day 69 to finish at 15-under-par 269. It was his seventh victory of theyear, the most since Johnny Miller won eight in 1974.