A gutsy Australia threw everything they had at the best rugby team in the world, scoring impressive tries and organizing bravely in defence. But again, ill-discipline and an inability to capitalize on big moments cost the Wallabies dearly as they lost a test they should have won, falling to France 30-29 at the Stade de France .
Against a French side that were all-conquering on a 10-game winning streak, Australia took the game by the scruff of the neck from the outset, Nic White’s charge in the opening minute showing the Wallabies’ intent to press the Blues and spread them out. Whites opposite number Antoine Dupont, 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year.
Dave Rennie’s men were always going to attack from open play but this Test, the 51st between the nations in 95 years of fierce rivalry, would be won in the clinches. ‘Le melee’ is where the Bleus thrive, but in the first scrum Australia’s front row stood firm and straight and the French side slipped. He won a penalty which Bernard Foley converted to make it 3-0. Immediately, Australia returned the penalty and Thomas Ramos made it 3-3.
Resurgent Wallabies tighthead Taniela Tupou was deep into the game, making big tackles to repel the giant French forwards. With no way out, France took to the air and when the Wallabies arrived late to help Dave Porecki to the ground. Ramos punished them 6-3. But when Hooper led late, Foley tied it at 6-6.
Australia’s attacking fluidity was surprising, but even then the cute passing and cut-backs went awry. But their defense held firm as France dominated the breakdown and slowly won the most important moments of the clash. Finally he explained, how Charles Ollivon found the stripe. However, a minute later replays showed a second move. no attempt
But Foley broke the game, missing the touchline, and France attacked, breaking over. Foley bravely played to Len Ikitau, who dared to go wide, releasing Tom Wright to fire on the line. He deflected inside and found Lalakai Foketi who then raced 40 meters to score a sensational try.
Now at 13-6, Australia again pushed forward, hitting high and chasing hard. France continued to drill it out of their own half to gift possession to Australia, who played kick-to-kick for a while before reverting to the Wallaby Way: ball in hand, full attack. Even when the cover attack was shut down, Ikitau’s cheeky inside kicks kept the Blues guessing.
Although Dupont was being monstered by Nic White at the breakdown and Michael Hooper and Rob Valetini were everywhere in defence, further Wallabies ill-discipline gave Ramos penalties in the 32nd and 37th minutes to make it a margin of a point
Then came the calamity. A panicked pass from Foley went after his man. France dived and went up to the line, Julien Marchand ended up receiving under the posts. It was a bust for the Wallabies. They had played their best rugby for most of the half but, as has become their custom, they undone the good with stupid mistakes, unnecessary turnovers and silly penalties to go 13-9 ahead with four minutes to go on 19-13.
In the second half, both teams advanced their cause in penalties to make it 22-16. When France introduced a new front row from the bench in the 53rd minute, Australia countered, unleashing 140kg monster Will Skelton off the pine. He made an immediate impact, winning a penalty to put Australia on the attack.
Australia won the line-out and advanced it in the maul. Instead of hitting the French barricades, White went right and Australia found wide space, freeing new defender Jock Campbell to put his ears back and crash over for his first try in national colours. Foley added the extras to put Australia back in front, 23-22 on the hour.
Australia continued to test the thinning of the blue line and it paid off when the tiring Frenchman infringed. Foley took the points and with 15 minutes to play held a 26-22 lead.
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Favored by a crowd of 60,000 at the Stade de France, the French staged further forays. Twice they turned down three to chase seven, but each time the French went to their heavy artillery, Australian resistance swarmed to kick the ball free.
France closed the gap to a solitary point with Ramos, but just as the game was there to be iced, Rennie made the surprise decision to replace his Iceman Foley, for Reece Hodge to seal the game off Jake Gordon. A French high kick gave Hodge a penalty goal from outside for 29-25. But with five minutes to go, French winger Damian Penaud laid out Hodge, then Gordon and Wright to pass in the corner. Ramos missed the conversion but it was still 30-29 with three minutes remaining.
When Folau Fainga’a’s lineout throw on halfway was ruled crooked, Australian heads fell and hearts sank. But again, showing the character that won them Tests against England and South Africa in the home series, the Wallabies refused to budge. They won a counter push and rolled it forward. But then a clutch moment when Jonathan Danty forced a turnover of his own. France celebrated; Australia went under.
Last week the Wallabies won a test they shouldn’t have against Scotland, ill-discipline exposing them to a defeat they luckily avoided. This week they lost a test they deserved to win against the hottest team in world rugby. One more chance and the chance to win two rounds in a row is over. Another golden victory turned to ashes.
“They are a good side. We gave them chances late on and we couldn’t control the territory at the end of the game and they bit us,” lamented coach Rennie. “I thought we defended well last week and our defensive maul was excellent and we did that again tonight. It’s a different game here, there’s a lot more kicking. We made a lot of tackles compared to France. Proud of the effort but the lads will hurt the shed.”