The magnificent boot of Melvyn Jaminet has been enough for France to seal their first win on Australian soil since 1990 and level the three-Test series at one win apiece.
The French fullback nailed seven penalty goals – including the winner in the 78th minute – to power his side to a much-needed victory that, despite trailing late, they probably deserved.
The seven penalties were a record for France against Australia and, combined with his successful conversion, gave the number 15 a whopping 23 points on the night.
The Wallabies had one last crack to steal the win when they got the ball back from the kick-off, but gave away a late penalty and France, this time, managed to close the game out successfully.
Noah Lolesio’s penalty goal briefly erased a three-point deficit for the Wallabies early in the second half, but it was all France for the the next 20 minutes.
Australia had to defend grimly against a serious assault on their try-line but, while they’d be pleased they kept the French at bay, repeated offside penalties meant they were never a chance of getting possession themselves – allowing Jaminet to kick his fourth and fifth penalty goals and put the visitors back up by six.
It was deja vu a few minutes later, with another sustained French attack putting enormous pressure on the Wallabies defence. Again, the home side held firm but, again, Jaminet was able to dob the penalty kick and give France an imposing nine-point lead.
When they had the ball, the Wallabies simply couldn’t make a dent in the imperious French defence and weren’t helping themselves with handling errors and lost lineouts.
Despite having the lion’s share of the ball, it looked as if the home side were destined to toil away for no result.
But they got the circuit-breaker.
A superb break up the middle from Tom Banks, followed by an excellent offload to Andrew Kellaway, saw Michael Hooper receive the final pass in the chain and the skipper fought off his opponent to score and bring his side back into the contest.
Lolesio nailed his second difficult conversion of the evening to get the Wallabies back within two, before slotting a tricky penalty goal a few minutes later to give the Wallabies the lead.
But that wasn’t the final twist. A dominant French scrum just moments later saw the visitors awarded a penalty, which Jaminet converted to restore his side’s advantage.
The first half saw the Wallabies squander several opportunities to score tries and, at one point, it looked like France would get away from them before the break.
A knock-on from Hunter Paisami – who didn’t pass to a free man outside beforehand – was the first of the lost chances, but there’d be plenty more before the half was out.
A superb solo run from Marika Koroibete looked to have put the Wallabies on the board properly, but the TMO called that one back after uncovering a slight knock-on from Tom Wright on the previous phase.
Then it was Koroibete’s turn to let a chance slip after he got his wires crossed with Tom Banks and wasn’t ready for a pass, before Matt To’omua tried to find Koroibete with a long pass that was found to be well forward.
All the while, Jaminet had kicked two penalty goals to Noah Lolesio’s one to put the visitors up 6-3, before Damian Penaud’s try got the French well on top.
Australia had been guilty of chasing an errant ball from France too deep, which allowed Penaud to storm up the unguarded left wing and score an important try.
Traded penalty goals from there ticked the scoreboard to 16-6 in France’s favour and they looked set to enjoy a healthy half time lead, before Taniela Tupou briefly put on his scrumhalf cape, throwing a stunning cut-out pass to Jake Gordon on the wing, who crossed for an even more important try close to the break.
Wallabies – 26
France – 28
Tries
Wallabies: Jake Gordon 38′, Michael Hooper 71′
France: Damian Penaud 22′
Conversions
Wallabies: Noah Lolesio 3/3 (39′, 72′, 75′)
France: Melvyn Jaminet 1/1 (22′)
Penalty Goals
Wallabies: Noah Lolesio 3/3 (17′, 26′, 46′)
France: Melvyn Jaminet 7/7 (2′, 10′, 34′, 51′, 56′, 63′, 78′)
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
I though the ref allowed the french to slow our ball way too much by not rolling. 6 and 8 always holding the bootstraps that little bit longer then standing and walking in front of our 9. One thing no one saw but under a I don't agree with however Hoopers try should have been a penalty try french defender playing the ball?? Wright letting the ball bounce once last week and again this week left two try's out there.
Fox
Roar Guru
Dave I :laughing: am a kiwi!
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
We would love to have a plethora of winger who can kick off either foot, read the passage of play like Richie. defend like a brick out house with high acceleration and the size of Lomu. Get real jcmasher. Koroibete would be embraced by most countries given the chance and is without doubt the first chosen winger for Australia because it doesnt matter who the coach is, he chooses himself?
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
Probably need to watch it again, but at the time I felt they were just too eager to go wide (obviously felt like they wider channels would provide most opportunity) but in getting it there they were often putting themselves under pressure i.e. wingers into touch, dropped pill or exposed at breakdown running away from support. French did defend exceptionally well for sure. :thumbup:
TC
Roar Rookie
Paulo the lose this week wasn't because of the ref. As you said in another post Lower Players have to Adapt, that's what is most Disappointing. You would expect either the coaches at halftime or the actual players to see The Breakdown is a Free for All..Get in there Lads, yet in the second half we Didn't or Couldn't Adapt to how it was Reffed..Not the first time though. Maybe like watching Basketball now "I just don't understand the New Interpretation of the game"? Great teams take out Bad Calls..We aren't even a Good team atm
Ex force fan
Guest
What you can also predict is that the Wallabies will not be a serious contender. We will be lucky to be in the Top 5. Will Rennie make the RWC 2023? Not if he don’t pick players outside the four Eastern SR franchises especially those playing overseas as well.
Stu
Roar Rookie
As I said a few days ago, it’ll be the same average performance as the first game. There’s no rust - we’re just a 7th in the world team, and for the 2nd time in a week, we played roughly to that standard, as we have for years now. Our rugby intellect across the board is low, compared to when we were 2 or 3 in the world, so expect the same again in the 3rd match, and well beyond that too. We’re a long way off world’s best practice teams now.. not even close, and it shows in so many low quality individual performances and team results.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Yes, we predominantly run straight into the waiting French bear-hug out wide all night.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
But just 1 part of his game and only when he’s out on the wing in space, where he often isn’t. Most good wingers (in other countries) these days pass very well and can break the line and then pass both ways to their support. Is this a skill not taught here?
soapit
Roar Guru
toomua near his best but still about 5 significant errors? not a huge positive
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Boks favourites? Well, 4x pool games, 1/4, 1/2 finals… they might still be 20mins short… might have to try and get extra time :silly:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Can understand why all the vitriol for the ref this week when the Wallabies lose. But last week, it was ‘a win’s a win’. And yea, all teams have supporters that will do this. But it’s a poor look, when any one does it.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“No one is blaming the ref for the WB loss” Yea, you may want to read the comments again. There is a lot. Just because people also call out the Wallabies for being poor doesn’t mean they also don’t blame the ref.
Coker
Roar Rookie
Largely true, but he's still better than all the alternatives.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I'd normally say that such a young team would have no chance, but they really are that good and no other team convinces.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
See "metres gained", he's made of concrete and he runs fast. Tonight I think he would feature in most peoples 3,2 and 1. as he does more often than not. Koroibete is a winger so his main job is not to pass.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
They mixed it up well Ozrugbynut but when 2 of the back three look like they'd rather be spectators...... Then France defended exceptionally well too.
Englishbob
Guest
Not the best refereed game I've ever watched, the ruck clear outs were a war zone at times but overall the more clinical team won: some sloppy stuff from the wallabies. Bearing in mind this is an experimental French team playing at the end of a ridiculous European season (26 domestic games atleast and then cup games) the wallabies really should be fresher and faster. Australia are approaching a situation similar to the celtic NH teams, as in a limited player pool in a competitive environment, the difference is that Ireland and Wales especially seem to achieve more with tighter resources. Not for the first time the Australian forward stocks look distinctly average, Australia cannot afford to disregard the Arnold's and Skeltons of the world when they look so underpowered.
Phil
Guest
Clifto,I thought Gordon was much better than last week and Tate is a good finisher. Also thought To'omua was back to something like his best and Banks finally stepped up in a test.Wright had a shocker and I really rate him,so probably just one of those nights.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Not a bad game at all for the neutrals. And a lot better quality from both teams compared to game one. Really looking forward to Test three.