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 7-5 Fiji, 18 minutes
Hammered! That is some hit from Vinaya Habosi, Duhan van der Merwe’s charge slowed somewhat by Waisea Nayacalevu at his ankles and then more definitely by a brick wall of a shoulder from the Fiji wing.
Scotland earn a breakdown penalty.
Scotland 7-5 Fiji, 16 minutes
This is excellent from Fiji. A Frank Lomani box kick goes more up than out but Viliame Mata taps it back Fiji’s way, and Vinaya Habosi subsequently makes a hole in Darcy Graham’s back after the Scotland wing claims Kini Murimurivalu’s long kick.
Graham holds on and makes a break up the right soon after, but Adam Hastings misdirects his kick into space, allowing Fiji to get back and clear.
TRY! Scotland 7-5 FIJI (Setareki Tuicuvu try, 14 minutes)
Fiji strike! Ruthless from Fiji, softening up the Scottish defence with punchy close-in carries and then exploiting the space out wide.
After the forwards make dents in the middle, Frank Lomani swiftly swings the ball wides, the hands sharp and the running lines straight, granting Setareki Tuicuvu a hard charge for the corner, with little hope of halting him. His effort from the tee is, again, rather less pretty, but if Scotland needed a reminder of what Fiji can do...
Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 12 minutes
Another offside penalty against Scotland - loose again, with several of the defensive line up too soon. Fiji kick for touch just outside the home 22, restored to a full complement with the return of Ratu Leone Rotuisolia.
Missed penalty! Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 11 minutes
Eek. Not the start that Setareki Tuicuvu would have liked from the tee, tugging it to the left. Three points go by.
Just a minute or so left on the yellow card.
Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 9 minutes
A deep restart from Fiji, with Adam Hastings’ clearance giving the visitors their first attacking lineout ball. Shorn of a lock, it doesn’t quite function as hope, with Kalaveti Ravouvou forced to retrieve his broom and sweep up at the tail.
Advantage coming - can Fiji make anything of it? They cannot, but an offside penalty 35 metres out in front of goal should grant them their first chance at points.
Setareki Tuicuvu, often at full-back but on the wing today, is Fiji’s nominated goal-kicker.
TRY! SCOTLAND 7-0 Fiji (George Turner try, 7 minutes)
Slowly it gets-a-moving and George Turner is over! Turner’s throw is good, the set-up sound, and Scotland’s collected mass gradually advance. Ali Price lends his slightly slender frame to ensure the hard work of the burly blokes is rewarded, giving Turner the final nudge he needs to open the scoring.
Over go the extras from Adam Hastings.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 5 minutes
Better at the maul from Scotland, and advantage coming. Freedom, then, with which to explore the wider channels, but Fiji handle Stuart Hogg and force Chris Harris into a hurried grubber - which goes all of three metres. Back for the penalty; back into that right-hand corner for, presumably, a rumble for the line.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 4 minutes
Vinaya Habosi steps in on the flank with Albert Tuisue pushed up to fill the Fijian second row. A hard charge from Waisea Nayacalevu gives Kini Murimurivalu enough space to clear with his left peg, which is normally cultured, but here rather hacks at the ball. Scotland lineout inside the Fiji 22.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 2 minutes
A tidy enough lineout from Scotland, but the maul doesn’t quite form as hoped, so wider they will have to go. As they sweep back to the right, space begins to open on the edge for Darcy Graham, but Frank Lomani snares an ankle. Graham’s infield offload ends up in Fijian hands, and appears to travel forward, too - Fiji scrum five out from their own line.
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