Medard: Wary of Canada threat

Les Bleus meet the All Blacks next Saturday and will be seeking a second win of the tournament following their opening 47-21 success over Japan.

Canada, too, will be seeking a second successive win following their 25-20 come-from-behind defeat of Tonga.

France centre Maxime Medard knows the contest will be far from easy for Les Bleus.

He said: "I am very wary of that team. We must get a victory, especially since they won against Tonga.

"Everyone is focused. We must up our game because we could have lost against Japan.

"We've got to show respect towards all teams; there is no small team. The Canadians will give their all."

Despite an inconsistent season, Medard is confident France can progress in the tournament.

He added: "It's been a difficult year for Les Bleus. We didn't start off this Rugby World Cup very well and we may still lack some confidence.

"We are all very motivated though. I was very eager to do well before our first game.

"I was extremely motivated, the reason being it might be the only Rugby World Cup I will ever play at. It is a unique opportunity and we all want to be champions. It is our goal."

Fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc is one of four players to survive from the opening win over Japan after coach Marc Lievremont made 11 changes to his starting XV.

Trinh-Duc said: "I was surprised by their victory. It is a well-structured team and it will be a fierce and tough contest. We will have to go out there and be committed in the battle.

"We all want to do better than in our first game against Japan, during which we struggled at times."

Canada head coach Kieran Crowley named an unchanged 22-man squad for the match.