France vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and final score as late Damian Penaud try snatches victory

The Wallabies led late after impressive tries from Lalakai Foketi and Jock Campbell, but Damian Penaud’s brilliance seized the win for the French at the death

(REUTERS)

Damian Penaud scored a late try to give France a hard-fought record 11th consecutive victory as they beat Australia 30-29 at the Stade de France in their autumn international on Saturday.

The Wallabies’ Lalakai Foketi scored a sensational try and Jock Campbell added another with Bernard Foley kicking the rest of the points for the visitors, who did a great job at keeping France‘s mercurial scrumhalf Antoine Dupont in check.

Fabien Galthie’s side however ground through the game and winger Penaud scored the winner to add to Julien Marchand’s try, while Thomas Ramos’s metronomic boot secured their other points.

France, who take on South Africa in Marseille next Saturday, improved on their record of consecutive victories that dated back to the 1930s.

Having not played together since the last Six Nations tournament as the squad who toured Japan in July was largely reshuffled, France lacked their usual bite but somehow pulled off a victory after a rough battle.

Australia, who had recalled experienced flyhalf Foley in August, defended stoutly and attacked when it mattered, only losing their way in the final five minutes.

Foley put the visitors ahead with an early penalty as Australia started strongly, only for Ramos to cancel out the advantage with a 30-metre penalty and then give Les Bleus the lead with a 48-metre kick.

After Foley’s second penalty, France touched down through Charles Ollivon, only for the try to be ruled out for a double movement. Minutes later, Australia effectively scored the first try at the end of a blistering counter attack, Foketi diving over after collecting Tom Wright’s pass inside the French 22.

France had a spell of domination and were rewarded with two Ramos penalties but for the first time in four years Les Bleus faced the prospect of being behind at halftime at the Stade de France.

However, Marchand scored a pivotal try in stoppage time from a strong ruck and Ramos added the extra points to give France a six-point lead at the interval with the score at 19-13.

Foley and Ramos traded penalties early in the second half, but Australia struck the first blow when Campbell went over after a fine collective move before Foley converted to give the Wallabies a one-point advantage and fresh momentum.

Foley kicked for three points again before Ramos also did so and, with five minutes left, Hodge added another penalty to leave France with a try to score for a win that looked elusive. But Penaud beat two tackles to touch down with four minutes left and gave his team another confidence boost a year before the World Cup on home soil.

France vs Australia latest updates

• France host Australia in Paris in the first of their autumn internationals
• The last five games between the sides have been decided by three points or fewer
• TRY! This is a stunning try from the Wallabies with Wright involved and Foketi dashing clear, 6-13
• TRY! Dupont picks up the pieces and Marchand bundles over on the stroke of half-time, 19-13
• TRY! Campbell with a violent run and score to put the Wallabies back on top, 22-23
• PENALTY! Ramos cuts the deficit as France resist going for the lineout, 25-26
• PENALTY! Hodge with a colossal kick to put the Wallabies up by four again, 25-29
• TRY! Penaud dances down the line and powers home, 30-29

[5 November 2022 16:31 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Wales 23-36 NEW ZEALAND (Aaron Smith, 53 minutes)

An audacious dummy from Ardie Savea and Aaron Smith is in for his second!

It’s a try-a-minute all of a sudden! New Zealand swiftly win the ball back deep in Welsh territory, and Savea produces a trademark exaggerated feint, hurling the ball up to his shoulder but no further, with Nicky Smith buying every bit of it.

The replacement prop grabs an ankle, but Savea’s offload sends in his scrum-half for another gleeful leap for the line.

(Getty Images)

[5 November 2022 16:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! WALES 23-29 New Zealand (Justin Tipuric try, 52 minutes)

Wayne Barnes’ can’t see an obvious knock on from either Priestland or Tipuric - the try stands!

That’s a big call. It looked, to me, like Tipuric never quite actually gathered the ball as he stooped to pick it up, using the turf to take some sort of control of it as he slid over before losing it again. But it was a try on the field, and TMO Brian MacNeice is content enough - Wales are right back in it!

[5 November 2022 16:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Try? Justin Tipuric collects and dives over but is there a knock-on in the build-up?

A box kick from Tomos Williams spills free from the arms of Richie Mo’unga and Rhys Priestland, jostling in the air, before Tipuric tries to scoop and score. There’s a suspicion that both might have gone forward from Welsh hands - the officials will have a look...

[5 November 2022 16:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 16-29 New Zealand, 50 minutes

New Zealand have generally been pretty loose from Wales’ restarts today, and the All Blacks again grant the hosts possession after the game gets back underway.

[5 November 2022 16:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Wales 16-29 NEW ZEALAND (Aaron Smith try, 47 minutes)

A sensational solo score from Aaron Smith!

That is a piece of brilliance from the veteran scrum-half, not a noted sniper but pinpoint here. New Zealand have an advantage and the Welsh fringe defenders are guilty of getting their eyes up early to those outside Smith, allowing him a chance to dance between them. Tommy Reffell and Dillon Lewis are left clutching at air.

Louis Rees-Zammit should grab in the backfield, but Smith darts off the right foot, jinking by the last defender and racing away from a retreating Alun Wyn Jones to slide in by the posts.

[5 November 2022 16:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! WALES 16-22 New Zealand (Gareth Anscombe penalty, 46 minutes)

Another simple one for Gareth Anscombe to close the gap further.

[5 November 2022 16:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 13-22 New Zealand, 44 minutes

Penalty to Wales as the crowd’s energy lifts. Rhys Priestland rather wastes the advantage with a curious little stabbed grubber - back for a kick at goal.

[5 November 2022 16:19 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 13-22 New Zealand, 43 minutes

Loose from New Zealand, and excellent attacking position for Wales! Aaron Smith throws a horrible skudder of a pass, Shannon Frizell knocking on at his ankles, and Taulupe Faletau ensures Tomos Williams’ fly-hack is a good’un, snatching the shoelaces of Beauden Barrett and rolling the New Zealand full-back into touch.

[5 November 2022 16:17 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 13-22 New Zealand, 42 minutes

Each side feels the other out with a series of early second-half carries. A ball breaks favourably for Aaron Smith, who lifts a delicate box kick over the top, but Gareth Anscombe safely deals with a high hop, surviving Jordie Barrett’s tackle and allowing his teammates to clear.

[5 November 2022 16:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Back underway

Alun Wyn Jones is on at the half - Adam Beard has been removed as Wayne Pivac turns to his most experienced head. Dillon Lewis is on, too, with Tomas Francis not re-emerging.