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 15:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 7-17 New Zealand, 28 minutes

A vital seven points, those, for Wales, but the All Blacks look in a fluent attacking mood. Again the visitors’ carriers bash back tacklers, generating rapid ball, with Ardie Savea and Rieko Ioane prominent and the clearers secure to prevent Justin Tipuric and Tommy Reffreell getting into their scavenging work.

A change of strategy, then - Tipuric ploughs in to a relatively unguarded breakdown and wins the ball with a counter-ruck, forcing New Zealand to infringe just outside the Welsh 22.

[5 November 2022 15:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! WALES 7-17 New Zealand (Rio Dyer try, 26 minutes)

A brilliant set-piece strike and Rio Dyer has a debut try!

Wales draw in the New Zealand forwards with the threat of the maul, but instead it is over to the backs. Nick Tompkins is the distributor, holding his feet as the defence come on, with George North’s hard charge on the angle the misdirection. Dyer loops out he back, collecting Tompkins’ pull-back pass and galloping over by the posts.

[5 November 2022 15:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-17 New Zealand, 24 minutes

Up into double figures goes the phase count, and onwards further still, with Wales making limited progress. Rieko Ioane is up swiftly to shut down any outside threat.

Finally, Wales force an error - a breakdown penalty grants everyone a chance to refill puffing lungs and Wales an opportunity to explore the left-hand corner.

[5 November 2022 15:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-17 New Zealand, 22 minutes

Penalty to Wales as a tackler fails to vacate the ruck space as Ardie Savea competes for the ball.

A second visit to the New Zealand 22 for Wales, and their trip is short-lived - the New Zealand defence drives them back over the border.

[5 November 2022 15:36 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Wales 0-17 NEW ZEALAND (Codie Taylor try, 19 minutes)

Two for Codie Taylor! Ardie Savea, genuinely everywhere so far, taps and goes quickly, and two carries later, Taylor is at the double.

Over goes a simple conversion to further extend the All Blacks’ advantage.

[5 November 2022 15:36 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-10 New Zealand, 18 minutes

New Zealand are over the gainline with virtually every carry. Tommy Reffell is told to leave the ball alone as he tries to jackal; Justin Tipuric too.

The ball spills free, and is in Welsh hands...but illegally so...

[5 November 2022 15:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-10 New Zealand, 16 minutes

Both sides a little loose with their handling - Ethan de Groot turns his eyes to the advancing defence as Aaron Smith fizzes the ball to the prop at first receiver. Welsh scrum.

But that’s sharp from the record-breaker: Aaron Smith snares Tomos Williams, forcing a knock-on, which is upgraded to a penalty when an offside Welshman plays at it.

[5 November 2022 15:32 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-10 New Zealand, 14 minutes

All a bit all over the place from the Welsh attack, the ball slow, the carriers static. Tomas Francis is rather tossed the ball in hope rather than expectation, and though the tighthead gathers steam, he can’t keep hold of the ball as he takes contact. Knock on, New Zealand scrum...

...At which a penalty goes against Francis for being too low in his set-up.

[5 November 2022 15:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Wales 0-10 New Zealand, 13 minutes

Wales need a foothold - might that be it? Shannon Frizell makes a mess of his gather from the latest Welsh restart - put off, perhaps, by a leap from Rio Dyer close to him - and the hosts will have a scrum in advanced territory.

[5 November 2022 15:28 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Wales 0-10 NEW ZEALAND (Codie Taylor try, 11 minutes)

And there it is for Codie Taylor!

Papali’i’s initial break was sparked by an outstanding steal from Ardie Savea at the breakdown, and the number eight is in close proximity again as New Zealand work up through the phases and closer and closer to the line. Taylor has the helping hands and heft of Scott Barrett at his rear as he drives around the corner, and over the hooker goes for the first try.