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 14:57 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Yellow card! Darcy Graham is sent to the sin bin! Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 79 minutes

A loose pass is delectably scooped up by Waisea Nayacalevu velvety hands, and Fiji have a rare chance to counter. Darcy Graham, named Player of the Match by the commentary team, denies them it, spearing in at the side at the ruck.

Nic Berry briefly directs his card into the face of a perplexed Ben White, but is soon informed of his error, and the right man is sent to the sin bin - to applause from the crowd.

[5 November 2022 14:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 77 minutes

A curiously short penalty advantage from Nic Berry after the Scottish scrum had again been rewarded for their drive. Fiji, then, are allowed to continue after a sharp ruck pilfer.

Vinaya Habosi carries three Scottish tacklers with him, just about managing to smuggle the ball back after Berry calls the maul, but a side entry from a Fijian clearer gives Scotland a penalty.

[5 November 2022 14:52 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 76 minutes

A tenth handling error of the day ends Fiji’s latest extravagant attacking dance. Vilimoni Botitu’s calf appears to have twinged - he receives some treatment as the two sets of forwards take a breather and ready themselves for a scrum just inside the Scotland 22.

[5 November 2022 14:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! SCOTLAND 28-12 Fiji (Ben White try, 74 minutes)

Ben White will never have an easier score!

Sharp from the scrum-half - Fiji put Vinaya Habosi on to the flank of their scrum to restore it to eight men. Habosi, intent on pushing, fails to get off the side as White sweeps around the back of a stable Scottish set-piece, and the makeshift blindside inadvertendly trips Viliame Mata, too.

All of that leaves a great chunk of open green pasture for White to run through, with barely a Fijian body in sight as he scores Scotland’s fourth try.

[5 November 2022 14:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 73 minutes

Eroni Mawi rejoins affairs to ensure Fiji have sufficient qualified front-rowers on the pitch as Scotland opt to scrum again.

[5 November 2022 14:45 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

No try! Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 73 minutes

Scotland sweep the ball to the left and Cameron Redpath has his first international try!

Or does he? Nic Berry calls upstairs to his TMO for a check, but Brett Cronan has already spotted a knock on by Jack Dempsey at the base of a rapidly advancing Scottish scrum. The try is chalked off, but Fiji are going to drop to 14 men.

Not a great day to be a Fijian debutant - Livai Natave heads for the sin bin.

[5 November 2022 14:42 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 72 minutes

And now Sam Matavesi stands up under pressure - Berry adds a scrum-specific warning to his previous order for disciplinary improvement.

Matavesi is then withdrawn; Tevita Ikainvere will hope to stabilise the centre of the Fijian front row.

[5 November 2022 14:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 71 minutes

The Fijian scrum is splintered. Penalty coming, again.

Ben White chips across for Darcy Graham, who leaps above Vilimoni Botitu...but can’t quite clasp it to score.

Back for the penalty. Nic Berry does not draw his card for now - it’s a scrum penalty, he says, but Fiji are made aware of the impending sanction again.

[5 November 2022 14:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 70 minutes

Walker’s first involvement is a good’un, a firm carry to make two metres. Jonny Gray also carries stiffly, and Sam Matavesi flops off his feet before developing a better jackaling position, and is rightly pinged.

Nic Berry warns Waisea Nayacalevu that the next penalty against his side will prompt a reach to his pocket for a card. Scotland fancy a scrum in the shadow of the Fijian posts.

[5 November 2022 14:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 68 minutes

Two penalties in quick succession against Fiji - the 12th and 13th of a match in which Nic Berry’s whistle has had to be regularly employed.

A debut for Scotland’s Murphy Walker, on at tighthead for Zander Fagerson.