Player ratings: France flopped
France failed to arrive, mentally, and got hammered by Australia in the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
Was it not for two converted tries in the final 10 minutes, when the game was long over as a contest, this may well have been France's biggest defeat against Australia.
It now only ranks at No.3.
And very few French players actually did their reputations any good and a game where the Wallabies outscored the visitors by seven tries to two.
Jan de Koning rates the French players!
15 Hugo Bonneval:
Was forced into a defensive role, although he did that very well. Had a few runs, but made no real impact and his hands also let him down on occasion.
5/10
14 Yohann Huget:
Missed some crucial tackles in the first half, although he had a few good runs. Looked for work in the second half and was better on defence.
5/10
13 Gael Fickou:
Was impressive on defence early on, forcing Wallabies into throwing uncomfortable wide passes. Didn't shirk his defensive work and made all his tackles.
6/10
12 Wesley Fofana:
He kept rushing up on defence and caused some problems for the Wallabies' wide game, but the rush-defence later came back to bite the French later on. Did have a few good runs when he eventually saw some ball.
4/10
11 Felix Le Bourhis:
His hands let him down and gifted Wallabies a try. Also made no impact with the ball in hand.
4/10
10 Frederic Michalak:
Showed some neat early touches, but didn't do his team any favours by kicking directly into touch on occasion and then also conceded a penalty at the breakdown. Made almost all his tackles.
5/10
9 Maxime Machenaud:
Caused his team plenty of headaches with his poor passing and shocking options. His kicking game also need plenty of work.
2/10
8 Damien Chouly:
Was France's most productive forward in a well-beaten team, with plenty of effective carries and some great work on defence, while his line-outs were accurate.
8/10
7 Bernard Le Roux:
Was strong with ball in hand and solid on defence, although he did miss the odd tackle.
6/10
6 Fulgence Ouedraogo:
Was a monster on defence, but didn't contribute much outside that – apart from two line-out wins.
5/10
5 Yoann Maestri:
Worked very hard on defence and won his line-outs. His workrate can improve.
5/10
4 Sebastien Vahaamahina:
Conceded a silly, high-tackle penalty that cost his team, but was much better in the second half. Improved his workrate a little.
5/10
3 Nicolas Mas (captain):
Penalised at the first scrum and then later in the first half again. Was more active in taking the ball up after the break.
5/10
2 Guilhelm Guirado:
Worked hard on defence, but still slipped too many tackles. Took the ball up often, but struggled to make ground.
5/10
1 Thomas Domingo:
Like most of the French forwards he was ponderous when taking the ball up and also slipped too many tackles.
4/10
Replacements:
16 Christopher Tolofua (on for Guirado, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Vincent Debaty (on for Domingo, 53rd min):
Was a little more effective on defence and with his ball carries.
5/10
18 Rabah Slimani (on for Mas, 53rd min):
Made a real impact with ball in hand.
6/10
19 Alexandre Flanquart (on for Vahaamahina, 53rd min):
Produced a rare line-out steal for France and showed some energy.
6/10
20 Antoine Burban (on for le Roux, 61st min):
Had his moments, but needs a better workrate.
5/10
21 Morgan Parra (on for Machenaud, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Remi Lamerat (on for Fickou, 73rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Brice Dulin (on for le Bourhis, 53rd min):
Had a few strong runs, but failed to make a single tackle.
5/10
