France vs Australia LIVE: Result and reaction after Wallabies thrashed in Paris
After England’s shock defeat to Fiji it’s the final match for France and Australia ahead of the Rugby World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.France concluded their preparations for their home Rugby World Cup in fine fashion with a convincing 41-17 win over Australia.
At a buoyant Stade de France, the hosts showed off their attacking range to accelerate away in the second half.
The Wallabies impressed in the first half with their own varied play with ball in hand, but failed to make a series of opportunities inside the French 22 count and fell to a fifth successive defeat since Eddie Jones was installed as head coach.
And with Antoine Dupont, Matthieu Jalibert and Thomas Ramos expertly pulling the strings, France’s backs repeatedly cut a fatiguing visiting side to ribbons to sign off in style ahead of the tournament.
Fabien Galthie’s side open the World Cup with a mouthwatering clash with New Zealand in Paris on Friday 8 September.
Australia begin their tournament back at the Stade de France a day later, with the Wallabies taking on Georgia.
Follow live updates from France vs Australia below:
France 31-12 Australia, 72 minutes
Two debuts for Australia, with some weary bodies trudging off: Blake Schoupp (pronounced “shop”) steps in for Angus Bell, and Tate McDermott is replaced by Issak Fines-Leleiwasa at scrum half.
Will Skelton departs as well; Matt Philip on in the row.
France 31-12 Australia, 71 minutes
France hack a bobbling ball ahead up the left, with Charles Ollivon striding after it. The flanker is such a smooth mover and might have been able to gallop over the final fences had he gathered cleanly - but hard collecting hands knock the ball on.
France 31-12 Australia, 69 minutes
Australia bring on replacement tighthead Zane Nonggor, hooker Matt Faessler and back row Langi Gleeson, while France introduce Melvyn Jaminet for Thomas Ramos, who has had another excellent day.
France 31-12 Australia, 67 minutes
Funky! A devilish bit of skill from Thomas Ramos, stepping back to fake a pass and then flicking a quirky kick over the Australian blitz defence. Matthieu Jalibert is favourite to take it but gets a nasty bounce, and can’t fully gather before an Australian arm knocks the ball from his grasp.
France 31-12 Australia, 66 minutes
A worry for both teams as Andrew Kellaway and Gael Fickou receive a bit of treatment afer France’s latest attempt to go from coast-to-coast. Both, thankfully with the World Cup so close, are back on their feet and back into the action.
TRY! FRANCE 31-12 Australia (Gabin Villiere try, 64 minutes)
More brilliant attacking rugby!
Australia are restored to 14 with Suliasi Vunivalu returning from the sin bin, but France still have too many attacking tools at their disposal for the Wallabies to cope with. Jonathan Danty, as he has done all day, wins the initial collision to concertina the Australian defence, leaving space for Matthieu Jalibert to stab a pitching wedge out to Gabin Villiere on the left wing.
Villiere uses the damp Stade de France turf wisely, sliding into the corner as two tacklers try to force him out. A clear, clean grounding - France have their third try.
TRY! France 26-12 AUSTRALIA (Fraser McReight try, 61 minutes)
Australia aren’t finished just yet!
Really, really smart play from Tate McDermott. The scrum half keeps things tight with his side down a man, utilising Angus Bell, Dave Porecki and Will Skelton to punch away up the left. When the ball is slow, he switches tack, sending Mark Nawaqanitawase off after a swirling box kick.
Nawaqanitawase out-leaps Thomas Ramos, and though he doesn’t gather cleanly, the loose ball bounces his way. Fraser McReight arrives and finds the blue defensive line parted in front of him - the flanker slides under the posts
France 26-5 Australia, 60 minutes
Antoine Dupont gets a great ovation as Fabien Galthie bubble wraps his scrum half star. Baptiste Couilloud steps in for the France captain.
TRY! FRANCE 26-5 Australia (Damian Penaud try, 57 minutes)
A fabulous French score!
Consider the switch most certainly flicked. Gregory Alldritt and Jonathan Danty lay the groundwork, both men broad of shoulder and winning the gainline to allow the architects to sketch. Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibert oblige, the fly half hitting an expert angle and offloading to Gael Fickou.
Fickou is halted a couple of metres short but Australia’s 14 men are all over the place. Dupont decides the simplest route of transfer to Damian Penaud is a kick, which is, of course, perfectly judged. Penaud gathers and grounds, with Thomas Ramos’s conversion from wide on the right further increasing the hosts’ advantage.
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