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
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.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 31 minutes
Before the scrum, an enforced change for Scotland - having lost Dave Cherry during the week, George Turner is forced off, with Ewan Ashman on at hooker, and straight into the scrummaging fray.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 31 minutes
Another firm shove from the Fijian scrum, and Scotland are offside. The visitors will scrum again, ten metres further infield.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 29 minutes
Up go a jumper from each team, and down they come clasping the ball together. Nic Berry urges Richie Gray to leave it, but he’s buried beneath the bodies and won’t be able to extricate himself - Fiji scrum against a 14-man Scottish defence.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 28 minutes
Breathless stuff in the last five minutes. Scotland have rather played into Fiji’s hands - a scrum penalty might settle things a little, with Ali Price ready to feed.
Stable from both sides to start, and then Scotland are penalised! Eroni Mawi, considered by many in Fiji to be the best prop prospect to emerge in the last five years, forces Zander Fagerson to turn in.
Vilimoni Botitu gives his hooker a five-metre lineout throw with a perfectly placed kick.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 28 minutes
A real broken feel to proceedings all of a sudden. Vilimoni Botitu somewhat surprisingly eschews what appears to be an overlap to turn Adam Hastings with a clever diagonal kick, but he’ll have a go now, with Zander Fagerson isolated in space.
Botitu puts his foot down and tries to put away Waisea Nayacalevu...but the pass slips through the hands and goes forward into touch.
Scotland 7-12 Fiji, 26 minutes
Off go Fiji again! Break up the right, break up the left, Vinaya Habosi nearly bursting through Adam Hastings.
Viliame Mata just about holds on to an offload. Can Fiji make the position count again? No! An errant pass and Grant Gilchrist has it. Scotland just about survive.
TRY! Scotland 7-12 FIJI (Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, 24 minutes)
Another try and Fiji lead! The lineout again looks a mess but ends up with the desired outcome as the Fijian midfield make dents. Viliame Mata brushes away two defenders, and there is another advantage coming as Levani Botia burrows between two defenders.
Botia goes closer still, and Ratu Leone Rotuisolia wriggles his way over for a debut score.
A change of kicker to Vilimoni Botitu - who nails the touchline conversion.
And Scotland drop to 14 men - Stuart Hogg is sent to the sin bin for persistent infringes. Fiji firmly on top.
Scotland 7-5 Fiji, 22 minutes
Nic Berry’s arm is out again. Two more infringements by Scotland, including a third or fourth offside, and that necessitates a chat between the Australian referee and Jamie Ritchie, who trudges back to advise his team to buck their ideas up. Fiji back into advanced territory.
Scotland 7-5 Fiji, 20 minutes
And another error from Scotland - Stuart Hogg gets slightly isolated in the carry and Chris Harris’ clearout is rather dangerous, tilting and toppling a Fijian jackler on to his head.
Somewhat surprisingly, there is no further look to see if there is need for greater sanction - and Fiji miss touch with the penalty.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments