Lausanne, Switzerland, May 26, 2018 - France are aiming at finishing the opening week of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League undefeated and on full points when they host Australia, Sunday in Rouen. The Europeans have only lost once in five encounters to Australia - and not since 2014.
Head-to-Head
• France have won four of their five encounters with Australia in world level major competitions.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Australia's only victory over France at world level came in the Big Final of group 2 at the 2014 World League: 3-2 in Sydney. Australia qualified for the final round of Group 1 after that win and ultimately finished in fifth place.
• In June 2016, France and Australia also met in qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games. France won 3-1 and went on to reach Rio, Australia just missed out on a spot for Brazil.
France
• Having beaten Iran 3-1 on Friday, France continued in good fashion by defeating Japan 3-1 on Saturday.
• At last year's World League, France started with a run of six successive victories.
• Kevin Tillie scored a match-high 17 points in France's victory over Japan. Stephen Boyer (15) and Jonas Aguenier (13) also reached double figures in scoring for the French.
• In France's victory over Iran on Friday, Tillie only scored five points and Boyer only one, while Aguenier did not make an appearance.
Australia
• Australia lost 3-0 to Iran on Saturday, after having lost 3-1 to Japan on Friday.
• The 2016 World League was the last world level major tournament Australia started with three successive defeats. They lost all their nine matches that tournament.
• Australia won their last four matches against CEV opponents at world level major tournaments. They beat Slovakia, Finland, Turkey and Netherlands at the 2017 World League.
• Their last loss to a European side also came at the 2017 World League, as they lost 3-1 to Slovakia on 3 June before beating them 3-0 six days later.
• Despite losing 3-0 to Iran on Saturday, Australia's Lincoln Alexander Williams finished as the match's top scorer on 18 points.