Superstar five-eighth Matt Giteau scored all the points as the Wallabies issued a warning to their Tri Nations rivals with a 22-6 triumph over in-form France at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Giteau bagged Australia’s only try and nailed a conversion and five penalties in another flawless display of goalkicking as the Wallabies completed their June internationals unbeaten.
Giteau’s haul was just three points shy of Matt Burke’s all-time record against France, achieved in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final victory in Cardiff.
The well-earned win completed a perfect four-from-four Tri Nations preparation for the Wallabies following earlier wins over the Barbarians and twin successes against Italy.
Compared to the fifth-ranked French, though, the Baa Baas and Azzurri are two of world rugby’s lesser lights and the Wallabies were eager to step it up a notch ahead their Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks in Auckland in three weeks’ time.
They did just that, keeping Les Bleus – who were fresh off an impressive drawn series with the All Blacks in New Zealand – tryless to maintain their 18-year domination of France on Australian soil.
Coach Robbie Deans was chuffed with the performance, hailing the Wallabies’ defence as the best of his 20-Test reign.
“Definitely in terms of collective understanding,” Deans said.
“The French are a capable side and we suppressed their opportunities and we did it in a way that was organised and positive and enthusiastic – and we sustained it.
“So that’s encouraging because we know from here we’re going to get a serious test in the Tri Nations. The ante is going to go up.
“But it’s been a solid month for us. It’s been a really good background for us and that was a better than solid performance, to be fair.
“There were elements that we’d been working on that we had some visible growth – defence obviously, but also the way the boys played the 80.
“It was a full team effort. Everyone got involved in the game and added something, which is something we’ve been working hard at as well.”
While Giteau again grabbed most of the plaudits, champion flanker George Smith – playing his record-equalling 11th Test against France and 99th in total – provided the inspiration for Australia’s fourth straight win over Les Bleus.
Smith was in everything as the Australian pack more than matched the highly-rated French forwards to lay the platform for the Wallabies backs.
“He’s a special player,” Deans said.
“He’s played 99 Tests, but you wouldn’t think so watching him today. You’d think it was his first in terms of the enthusiasm that he brings to it.”
It wasn’t always pretty but when the Wallabies backs did execute for the only try of the night, it was impressive stuff.
Giteau started and finished the 40-metre movement.
His long cut-out pass found skipper Stirling Mortlock, who drew the defence to release Lachie Turner and the winger then found Berrick Barnes in support before he delivered a neat final pass to Giteau.
Giteau’s conversion gave the Wallabies a 7-0 lead after 18 minutes.
A penalty from flyhalf Lionel Beauxis briefly narrowed the deficit to four points, but Giteau replied to give Australia a 10-3 lead at the break.
Four more penalties between the 43rd and 56th minutes put the result beyond doubt.
Mike
Guest
I agree this was a solid performance by Wallabies. That is partly a credit to the French, who truly are a world-class side, despite their very different style. The French were aggressive in the first half, but grew more patchy as the game went on. Its not just the hard season, they also have a hoodoo about the Wallabies. Their best chance to beat Australia was at Stade Francais last year, so winning here was always going to be difficult. Good to see the French giving the Australians a lesson in counter-rucking – hopefully Wallabies will learn from it. Sharpe had his best game in years, but mustn’t forget he is always workmanlike. Not brilliant, but plays at the same intensity for the full 80 minutes. Agree with plaudits for Robinson – an excellent game, and the forwards are underrated when it comes to man-of-the-match. Alexander has a lot of work to do – I wonder if Guy Shepherdson should be given another run? Once again, the Ref's scrum-setting was mediocre at best. Al Baxter IS a different player after Deans and Foley. Refs performance so far this season has been poor and they are the ones who need to lift their game. Our tactical kicking was all over the place. If this is a one-off weakness, then we can live with it, but if not… I too don’t understand the criticism of Burgess. He has his own style, almost a league style, and it is now clear why Deans has persisted with him for so long. RWC: spot on re Burgess’ hit on the French prop – this man has no respect for size.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Tis interesting that the rugby league is finding a upwards swing in popularity for Sunday afternoon games .... but differing markets I suppose being that is happening at suburban grounds. Also the afternoon games makes for better handling and a more open game.
True Tah
Guest
Pablo you could play games on sunday afternoons. Look at South Africa, they rarely have night tests. Going to a game in SA is so much differant, its like going to a college football game in the US, with people having braais and beers before and after the game in the carpark, dissecting what happened, kids kicking and passing rugby balls around. Argentina is the same as South Africa. Maybe Australians are differant, as you dont find that sort of atmosphere at NRL or HAL games either (maybe AFL in Melbourne/Adelaide/Perth you might find it).
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Thats TT. Agree on the SFS, but the ARU has probably stitched itself up with a deal with Homebush for years and stuffed their options. Similarly with day tests, the TV deal probably requires this as the ratings will be better at night. Crowds might also drop with blokes playing club rugby, but I seem to recall rounds being delayed sometimes when day tests were on. Ah the good ole days ....
True Tah
Guest
Pablo the crowd was 43K. The ARU should really be scheduling these games for SFS in future, it would have been a sellout there. Better still, have the game on a sunday afternoon...why does the ARU insist on having every test match at night time...after watching the boks v lions, surely there is plenty of merit in playing games in the day time?
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
What was the crowd? I have not seen one article that said what it was (at least in Fairfax). I took this as being it must have been OK, given they usually don't need much excuse to whinge about those things. it looked about 50K to me. I didn't go because I expected it to be a 2nd rate French side, kicked myself when they knocked off the ABs and it looked like it would be a good test, had to knock back free tickets on the Friday through work as I had something on Saturday, and then was satisfied I didn't go because the game turned out to be insipid. And I'd say that was a common tale, resulting it whatever the crowd was. The ARU takes the fans for granted. This is what happens. it's not rocket science. I notice everyone talked up origin 2 as having a great crowd of 80K. it wasn't a sell out, for league's biggest game but was considered a success. if rugby had 80K for the bledisloe we'd be wondering why it didn't sell out. Different perspectives.
bulldog
Guest
I am very happy to see all the humble pie being eaten on this site with respect to Sharpe. Pocock also very good when he was on. Smith is a freak. Is this the end for Phil Waugh?
Terry Kidd
Guest
If he stays relatively injury free then my guess, based on 10 - 11 tests per year, plus the RWC, would be bewteen 150 - 170 ..... quite an extraordinary achievement.
Knives Out
Guest
How many caps will George Smith collect? I don't think it would an outrageous suggestion to offer that potentially he could garner close to 150.
Bailey
Guest
I actually enjoyed watching this game more then the atrocious AB's! I have to admit im afraid of whats to come with the Wallabies they're looking oh so good at the moment. Their defence was superb and against a strong side like France its def something they should be proud of! I've stated in the past how much i wanted Robbie to coach the AB's, now im wishing for it more so now then ever before! The same players from last year look mighty good, and when one gets injured another mofo pops up, i just can't help but wonder what deans' philosophy would have been like if he placed the same ethos with the AB's. Oh to dream!!
Terry Kidd
Guest
I have knocked Sharpe's performances a lot but he did have a good game. Burgess went well guys, get off his back. In the backs I thought Mortlock performed the worst and in the forwards Mumm was the worst. Benn Robinson is a freak at 1 and Smith is a freak at 7 .... imho smith is now better than McCaw.
tarpo
Guest
Best game I have ever seen from Sharpie, he ran to the line with purpose & looked to offload with nearly every ball!!! He has clearly been reading the posts on the Roar! If he keeps improving at this rate I am more than happy for him to be in the team long term.
OldManEmu
Guest
Well done Sharpey. I hope all his baggers on the Roar are tucking into a great big slice of pie right now.
Jameswm
Guest
Yes PK you noticed the throwing but no one else did!
Even looser
Guest
Agree that refs may be guilty of fronting up to the game with preconceived ideas about Big Al. Maybe he needs a big tick & stamp on his forehead saying 'qualified at the Foley School of Scrum'.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I get the feeling ref's particularly NH refs see him as a bit of a game player in the scrum. Which goes to show that those who ref the game never played in the front row. The whole idea is to gain the advantage over your opposite. In a professional era physically there shouldn't be a big strength difference regardless of body shape. So technique and 'nous' ( cunning) come into play. But Baxter big problem stems from his years of mediocrity in the scrummage under Eddie Jones. He has improved greatly over the past 3 years and has become a solid international tighthead not great and there are several better but solid. To be truthful our dominant scrum has all to do with the short little fat fella in loosehead. So he's good. And I think TH is solid at the moment. I firmly believe that the TH position will become a much stronger position for Australia in the future too. There is clearly future planning in place this season with Alexander and Cowan been given a run at tighthead. Neither are there yet but they need the experience to get there. Plus we also have Sekope Kepu who didn't play alot of S14 this year but will feature next season. He be all the better for working with Michael Foley at the Tahs and if or when Rodney Blake returns from his scrummaging lessons in France we should be pretty deep in the position.
retired rucker
Guest
Happy to concede on Burgess, as Peter K mentioned none of my observations are personal either. I do think that it is much better to be at the game to judge positional play as it is not possible from tv coverage. I've always wondered if they can put an overhaed shot in the corner of the screen so rugby nuts can observe the whole spectacle. What I'd like to know from fellow Roarers is do they think TH is solid at the moment, I think there is plenty room for improvement here and I think Baxter legacy causes isuues with the ref.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Yeah and Burgess's defence is first rate. The hit against SBW in the Baa Baas game and then the beaut he put on the French Prop last dislodging the ball. How embarassing for that boy. As a Prop there is nothing sweeter than smashing a Half Back and nothing more humilating than being smashed by one. Thankl god it never happened to me.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
There's always criticism toward Burgess over the speed of his delivery. But more often than not he has to fight for the ball in the ruck. But what I noticed last night that he also gives the team another option than a sniping half back. He also can and did act as another attacking ball runner hitting the line in general.
Peter K
Guest
Bennalong - I agree. I was at the game as well. Burgess covers an enormous amount of ground and the attack fell off when Valentine came on. Most of the time that the ball was slow was because it was trapped OR Mortlock has called a piggy run and the little piggies take more time to be ready and braced for a smashing. Bugess had 1 poor pass that was his fault. The others were because his arm was hit by the French. He did run sideways a few times but on most of them he straightened up and run for a gap keeping them in 2 minds. Far better than Gregan. Jameswm - Thats not fair I noted above how Moores first throw was way too high and TPN got caned for just 1 mistake. Burgess defense was comparable to a loosies. Worlds Biggest - Sharpe having a good game is great, yes I am a knocker but I have nothing personal against him and I am happy for him to be in the team if he is delivering which he is now. I hope he is not like Mark Waugh and does enough when his spot is under jeopordy but keeps performing.