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.
Ireland 16-11 South Africa, 71 minutes
Johnny Sexton launches his latest firework, the debris coming down just short of South Africa’s 22, with the Springboks managing to smuggle the ball back their way.
Ireland 16-11 South Africa, 70 minutes
This hasn’t been Damian Willemse’s best performance. He sails a kick out on the full, neither driving it for a 50:22 when the option appeared to be there nor sending up a tempter for those outside him to chase.
TRY! Ireland 16-11 SOUTH AFRICA (Franco Mostert try, 68 minutes)
The long arm of the lock gets there!
From nowhere, invention from South Africa. Cheslin Kolbe latches on to a grubber and releases Jesse Kriel, who hurls a desperate offload back to Kolbe as he is buffeted into touch. Kolbe is somehow hauled back by Jimmy O’Brien.
Franco Mostert won’t be denied, though, hitting a hole with advantage coming and using the full extension of those lengthy limbs to score.
The conversion...strikes the upright and stays out!
Try? Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 67 minutes
At last life in South Africa’s play - has Franco Mostert managed to reach out for the line?
Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 66 minutes
South Africa really aren’t helping themselves. Their punt for the corner misses touch, with Robert Baloucoune not even required to produce any contortions, rushing in to gather on the five-metre line.
Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 65 minutes
Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Beirne take their (richly-earned) leave; Ireland bring on Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell to ballast their tight five. Jamison Gibson-Park is now sporting a protective scrum cap after suffering a head wound - he feeds a stable Irish scrum, but produces another hashed box kick. Josh van der Flier gets to it, though, and strides away from danger.
The flanker goes all the way up towards halfway, where South Africa win a holding on penalty.
Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 64 minutes
Makazola Mapimpi trots in, but there’s a forward pass!
Bright thinking from Kwagga Smith, the replacement flanker tapping and going a penalty and beating three defenders.
Smith’s charge up the left opens space on the right, but Eben Etzebeth ignores the numbers waiting outside him, and Damian Willemse’s ball for his wing Mapimpi drifts forward.
Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 62 minutes
Looser from the home side, Dan Sheehan’s throw stolen; Jamison Gibson-Park’s box kick sliced.
Can South Africa take advantage of possession in attacking position? They cannot - Tadhg Beirne leads an effective counter-ruck and then boots the ball up field.
Ireland 16-6 South Africa, 60 minutes
The Irish front row then gets revenge, awarded the penalty as it all comes down in a heap.
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