Wallabies implode as France deliver stunning second-half comeback
MATCH REPORT: Australia surrendered a 21-12 halftime lead to go down by 26-42 against France in the Nations Championship at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Australia looked set to record their first win in the campaign, but France’s class and skill came through when it mattered.
The Wallabies will rue their lack of discipline, poor kicking and tackling at times, which allowed Les Bleus to punish them.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
The Wallabies’ Ill-discipline continued from last week, conceding a penalty for a high tackle that gave France an early attacking platform.
Les Bleus made Australia pay in the second minute as Emmanuel Meafou barged over the line to open the match’s scoring. Maxime Lucu made it the full seven with a successful conversion.
Australia responded in the 10th minute from close range through Brandon Paenga-Amosa. Ryan Lonergan levelled matters with the conversion kick.
France hit back in the 17th minute as Romain Ntamack nailed a grubber which sat up for debutant Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang to score in the corner.
Les Bleus went down to 14 players following a yellow card to Meafou for a dangerous shoulder-to-head tackle in the 24th minute.
Australia punished France after Fraser McReight dotted down, which originated from a tap kick. Lonergan’s conversion got the Wallabies ahead for the first time in the game after 27 minutes of play.
The hosts extended their lead through a rolling maul try as McReight grabbed a brace in the 33rd minute. Lonergan’s conversion pushed the lead to nine points for Australia.
France had a final attacking opportunity with a rolling maul in Australia’s half but got penalised for obstruction.
Continues below…
France closed the gap to six points with a successful penalty by Lucu five minutes into the second half.
Les Bleus broke out from their own half to score their third through debutant Grandidier-Nkanang, who grabbed a double. Lucu missed the conversion.
At the same time, Tom Wright got sent to the sinbin for not rolling away at the breakdown following a linebreak in the 51st minute.
France got in again through Ntamack, who sold the dummy and beat James Slipper as Australia started missing tackles. Lucu got back on target to put Les Bleus ahead by six points.
The visitors attacked from inside their own half once more off a poor kick by Australia and got their reward through Florian Verhaeghe, who dotted down under the posts, with Lucu adding the extras to push the lead to 13 points after 57 minutes.
France almost got in again three minutes later but was denied due to a forward pass.
Lucu extended France’s lead with his second successful penalty following obstruction by Australia in the 62nd minute.
Theo Attissotbe put the cherry on the cake with a try in the 73rd minute, taking France into the 40-point range on the scoreboard.
Australia responded with a late try through Jeremy Williams, which sealed the four-try bonus point, but it was too little, too late.
Player of the match: France debutant winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang grabbed a brace, made two linebreaks and didn’t look out of place in the Test arena in his first hit-out
Scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Paenga-Amosa, McReight 2, Williams
Cons: Lonergan 3
For France:
Tries: Meafou, Grandidier-Nkanang 2, Ntamack, Verhaeghe, Attissogbe
Cons: Lucu 3
Pens: Lucu 2
Yellow cards: Emmanuel Meafou (Australia, 24′ – Dangerous play: high tackle), Tom Wright (Australia, 51 – Cynical foul: not rolling away at the breakdown following a France linebreak)
Teams:
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Jock Campbell, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
France: 15 Matthieu Jalibert, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Fabien Brau Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Moses Alo-Emile
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Jefferson Poirot, 18 Tevita Tatafu, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
