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PARIS – Practice match or not, the Wallabies will head into the World Cup winless from five Tests to start the year. Their latest humbling defeat, a 41-17 loss to World Cup hosts Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Sunday.
Ill-discipline and a failure to take their chances in France’s attacking zone, including four missed shots at goal from Carter Gordon, saw the Wallabies blow their hopes of finding some momentum on the eve of the World Cup.
France scored four tries to the Wallabies’ three, but it was the boot of fullback Thomas Ramos, who scored 16 points from the tee, that proved the great difference between the two sides.
The other? France’s defence.
Gabin Villiere dives over to score against the Wallabies in Paris. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
The Wallabies had multiple chances in both halves, including several raids early in the second half, but France repelled the visitors through a strong defensive maul and around the ruck.
After not having any pay from the 13th minute when Mark Nawaqanitawase finished out wide, Tate McDermott resorted to a box kick in the 61st minute in the hope one of his aerial threats brought gold from the stars.
Just as Ireland has found success over the use of attacking kicks in opposition halves in recent years, the Wallabies did too as Nawaqanitawase spectacularly brought the ball down inside France’s half. Moments later Fraser McReight steamed over the line to score the Wallabies’ second try.
But the moments of joy were few and far between as the host nation warmed up in style by burning the Wallabies out wide in front of a packed house of 80,000.
Damian Penaud, who denied the Wallabies a famous win last October, scored a stunning second-half double from kicks to ensure France head into their World Cup opener on September 8 against the All Blacks with all the confidence in the world.
It’s a stark contrast to the state Jones’ Wallabies find themselves in.
Eddie Jones’ Wallabies are winless heading into the World Cup after going down to France at the Stade de France on August 27, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
It was back in July ahead of the Wallabies’ second loss of the season to Argentina that Eddie Jones said he had never seen a side enjoy the fruits of momentum for four months. Jones, who insisted their clash against France was a “practice match” before leaving Sydney, must hope that proves to be the case because they’ve never gone into a World Cup campaign winless.
Of course losing to France is no great shame, but Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan will be sweating that Jones’ Wallabies can turn it around over the next two months otherwise he’ll be left in a spot of bother having sacked Dave Rennie in January.
At least the ninth-placed Wallabies can fall back on the fact they are on the easier side of the draw, with not one of the five highest ranked nations in the world on their half, including the 11th ranked Georgia who they will play first-up at the Stade de France on September 9.
Jones didn’t hide behind the winless start to 2023 but said they were building to a greater plan.
“Within the camp we’ve got a fair bit of confidence,” he said.
“Obviously we’d like to have a better win/loss record but we’ve re-estabilised the team. We’ve taken away all the leadership that was there previously. We’ve got a new leadership team in place. We’re trying to play a different way.
“The results haven’t been good. It hasn’t been good enough. I’m not hiding away from that but we do have a longer-term plan in terms of the World Cup and that’s what we’re here for.”
Despite the ugly scoreboard, the Wallabies’ scrum fired with Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell starting together for the first time this year.
Suliasi Vunivalu and Nawaqanitawase were also lethal out wide.
“I was thinking about the number of players that are improving,” Jones said when asked about Vunivalu’s performance.
“We’ve got more players improving than declining. Suli is one. At Super Rugby level, he couldn’t blow a candle out and at Test level he scored one good try, could have scored a couple more. He looks like he’s ready to play at the highest level.
“I think our set-piece. Our scrum probably finished on top and the lineout was good. I thought the way we were able to negate France’s defence was pretty good. We just didn’t execute it well enough. We scored three good tries.
“I like the way the players kept fighting. I really enjoyed that. They were red hot in the second half. Every bounce went their way. it was a tough second half but we kept in there and kept fighting.”
Gordon’s kicking wobbles were on show early.
After the French were pinged for being offside during an early bit of kick-tennis, Gordon missed a relatively straight forward kick from 40 metres. It was a sign of things to come.
The Wallabies had the early running early as wingers Nawaqanitawase and Vunivalu showed what they can do in some space. But, as often was the case, discipline let them down as Rob Valetini was pinged for going off his feet at the breakdown.
One penalty turned into two as Tupou was penalised for a high shot from behind on Gabin Villiere.
From the infringement, Jonathan Danty, for the second time inside the opening minutes, ran straight at Gordon and powered over from close range to score.
The Wallabies hit back quickly, as Nawaqanitawase dived over out wide when the men in gold were playing advantage from another rolling maul infringement.
Mark Nawaqanitawase scored the Wallabies’ first try against Les Bleus at Stade de France on August 27, 2023 in Paris. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Some lineout issues from Julien Marchand allowed the Wallabies to get back into opposition territory and Suliasi Vunivalu twice showed in quick succession his athleticism by getting on the outside of Villiere.
The Wallabies then allowed the French to accumulate as Richie Arnold was pinged for a high shot.
A five-point lead quickly became eight as Tupou was pinged for hands in the ruck, before Tom Hooper was penalised for not rolling away.
Gordon had the chance to stem the bleeding after the Wallabies’ scrum went to town, but the playmaker missed another shot as France knocked over another three to take a 16-5 lead into half time.
Thibaud Flament is tackled by Richie Arnold and Taniela Tupou in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
After an early penalty miss from Ramos, the Wallabies turned the screw on their opponents as Nawaqanitawase pinned the ears back and got on the outside of Danty.
While nothing came of the break, some brilliant counter rucking from Tupou saw the Wallabies get another chance. They didn’t take the chance, as Gordon’s crossfield kick was just short of the tryline and meant Vunivalu couldn’t simply catch it and score.
Two lost lineouts then hurt the Wallabies, as France turned defence into attack.
Making matters worse, Antoine Dupont’s heads up rugby saw Les Bleus break centre field. Moments later, Vunivalu, who had his best game in gold, found himself in the sin bin for going off his feet at the ruck to deny the home side quick ball.
It was a tough call but it summed up the Wallabies’ evening.
Ramos banked another three points, before France once again got quickly on the offensive. It ended with Penaud scoring his first from a superb Dupont crossfield kick.
While the Wallabies hit back through McReight, France quickly returned fire-with-fire as Villiere scored just as Vunivalu returned from the sin bin.
Penaud’s second try was a thing of beauty in the 74th minute as he burst onto a chip kick and touched down.
Another kick saw Vunivalu score his first Test try, but it merely put some respectability to the scoreboard.
France’s evening ended with Melvyn Jaminet banging over a long range penalty. And off France go. This party is just starting. The question is just how long the music will play for the Wallabies during this campaign.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.