Summary
Thank you for joining us tonight for another exciting finish at the start of this international season, and a result that sets up the series finale at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday evening. We’ll be back here to do it all again then, and find out if France can continue their impressive tour, or if the Wallabies can finally convert possession and territory into points.
Updated
“We lost the battle of body height,” Rennie concedes, in an answer full of diplomatic code that, translated, suggests he thought his side was monstered at the breakdown.
A massive challenge for both sides now to back up in just four days with the final Test of the series on Saturday.
Dave Rennie is quick to point out the breakdown turnover as Australia’s weakness, as well as an inability to play territory and make smart decisions at certain times.
It will be fascinating to see how this result will be dissected. Australia played well. They were strong for 60-minutes in set-pieces, bold in possession, ran at every opportunity, played on the front foot; but the precision isn’t there yet in the backs, and the errors, especially at the breakdown, proved very costly. Marika Koroibete was awesome, Taniela Tupou powerful, and Jake Gordon bright. There was no shortage of things to feel optimistic about, yet they suffered a home defeat to a mostly second-string France, a week after trailing the same French for almost 80-minutes in Brisbane.
“We’ll go back and review what we need to,” says Michael Hooper. He was pleased with the amount of phase-play the Wallabies strung together, but for the second time in a week Australia were undone by untimely errors.
France captain Anthony Jelonch said something resembling this, via a translator: “We managed to do what we didn’t do last Wednesday. I’m really proud.” It was a super long answer that the poor translator had a nightmare of a job interpreting.
A much more entertaining contest than in Brisbane, but with an equally thrilling climax, this time falling the way of the visitors. Heartbreak followed by delight.
A first France win against the Wallabies, in Australia, since 1990.
Full-time: Australia 26-28 France
No mistake this time. The ball is fired back to a wide open blue jersey and the ball is belted into the stands. FRANCE WIN!
80 mins: Australia 26-28 France - Australia mount their final attack. They start in midfield 40m out but carve to the left, recycling play repeatedly, brave enough to use runners on both shoulders... but with 30 seconds on the clock France haul down Salakaia-Loto, secure the turnover, and earn the penalty.
79 mins: Australia 26-28 France - Can France close it out this time?
PENALTY! Australia 26-28 France (Jaminet, 78)
Mon dieu! France are back ahead!
77 mins: Australia 26-25 France - Australia earn a scrum from the restart - but WOW! France make an almighty shove. HUGE! They earn a scrum penalty with a massive heave that sends the Wallabies’ pack wheeling backwards until they’re splintered. Gee whizz, that was incredible.
PENALTY! Australia 26-25 France - (Lolesio, 76)
40m out, 15m infield for Lolesio. He’s five from five so far tonight. Make that six from six! Australia up by one!
Just like in game one, France lead for an eternity but look set to cough up victory at the death. Sacré bleu!
74 mins: Australia 23-25 France - The Wallabies are determined to run their way to victory. The reserve forwards pound the middle, the backs are invited to snipe on the right, Banks and Naisarani to the fore, until Valetini induces an offside 40m out. It’s kickable, but no gimme for Lolesio.
73 mins: Australia 23-25 France - It’s all gone a bit Pete Tong on the French bench with a replacement SNAFU. There’s a dislocated shoulder somewhere and a scramble for a fit warm body. When play resumes Koroibete is back hurling himself at the blue wall.
TRY! Australia 23-25 France (Hooper, 71)
The high kick to halfway is again regathered by Australia and run straight back into contact. Banks makes a break, he has Kellaway in support, who has Hooper in support, and the Wallabies are over! The move began with superb vision from Banks, picking his spot like an NFL running back weaving through the tiniest gap, but the finish was all about Hooper’s determination to keep up with play. He is one hell of a determined little bugger.
Lolesio kicks another brilliant conversion, and we have another nail-biting finish.
70 mins: Australia 16-25 France - Poor lineout from the Wallabies and play is suddenly on halfway instead of deep in France’s half. Naisarani doesn’t mind where the play is, he bustles through contact - but there’s no support and the diligent French defence executes the turnover.
69 mins: Australia 16-25 France - Safe defensive lineout from France and after a couple of nervy phases Couilloud kicks clear.
68 mins: Australia 16-25 France - Excellent lineout and rolling maul for the Wallabies... until it splinters - and the French hold tight and push the ball carrier Lonergan into touch. Huge win for Les Bleus!
68 mins: Australia 16-25 France - Subs aplenty before the scrum, and while it’s all happening the referee explains to the captains that it actually should be a penalty, not a scrum, as there was an offside called by a touch judge that wasn’t relayed because of a technical malfunction. Australia kick to the right corner.
67 mins: Australia 16-25 France - France secure high-pressure lineout ball and resist a powerful Australian counter-maul before kicking clear. From their own lineout the Wallabies get back into their running, finding some sharp combinations with second and third runners hitting the line hard as play drifts from right to left. France are disciplined in defence and the ball is slower and slower to be recycled. Superb defence... until on phase 12-ish Australia are awarded a scrum, 30m out.
65 mins: Australia 16-25 France - Good restart from the Wallabies and they get to work with their running game, but France defend stoutly with minimal bodies committed to the breakdown so Toomua kicks to the right corner to buy territory with momentum absence.
PENALTY! Australia 16-25 France (Jaminet, 63)
Jaminet, Jamin-yey! The French fullback cannot miss.
60 mins: Australia 16-22 France - After a stellar night at set-pieces the Wallabies fluff their lines and Woki steals the lineout. He then executes a thrilling counterattack own the blindside, the left, that takes them 80m downfield. On the 22 the fifth phase earns a penalty advantage and the French forwards are all over their golden rivals. A quick interplay with Couilloud steals another 10m or so and with the line in sight another penalty advantage is called for offside.
59 mins: Australia 16-22 France - Powerful scrum shunt for Australia earns a penalty. The kick from Banks sets up a 7m lineout throw.
57 mins: Australia 16-22 France - France slow the game down from the restart, box kick, and look to have induced Banks into a knock-on, but the scrum goes Australia’s way.
Updated
PENALTY! Australia 16-22 France (Jaminet, 56)
As the substitutes begin to roll on, Jaminet continues his flawless night with the boot.
56 mins: Australia 16-19 France - France tap and go from the penalty and immediately earn another advantage under the posts. But they keep driving. Picking and rolling from the massed breakdowns. Taofifenua spins out of contact under the posts, reaches out, and crosses! But it’s an unconvincing grounding, and the onfield call is no try. So so so close, but no cigar. Back to the gimme penalty, and the Wallabies warned for three successive offsides in the attack.
54 mins: Australia 16-19 France - France are happy to kick long from the restart but Koroibete is having none of it, smashing back at pace and bullying his way over the gainline. He is brutal! Australia can’t make progress though and the attack fizzles out on the left where Gordon is forced to box kick.
Oh boy, France hurl everything at the kick return! They explode into life with a Jaminet gather and burst through the middle, supported by a series of quick phases with support runners to take them to the brink of the line. With bodies massed an advantage is called but the French don’t give up, picking and driving, man after man, but the gold defensive line is resolute and they force the visitors to accept the penalty.
PENALTY! Australia 16-19 France (Jaminet, 51)
Never in doubt. As they have for almost the entirety of the series so far, France lead.
50 mins: Australia 16-16 France - Scrum to France 35m out in midfield. And it earns a penalty as the Australian front row collapses.
49 mins: Australia 16-16 France - France are less ambitious in possession and after securing safe ball in defensive territory they kick long. It’s a smart play as Wright loses possession early into a running counter. Another one of those exasperating errors that continue to undermine this team’s progress.
48 mins: Australia 16-16 France - A brief kicking exchange precedes another long phase of Australian possession. A couple of midfield drives set up a couple of backline phases down the right. France’s defence is solid and Gordon eventually accepts the box kick.
PENALTY! Australia 16-16 France (Lolesio, 46)
Simple three points for Australia’s fly-half, and scores are tied.
45 mins: Australia 13-16 France - Australia’s set-piece is in fine order tonight and a lineout on halfway soon becomes a flowing crisp attack to the right wing until space runs out. France’s lineout is stolen though and the gold jerseys flood forward 20m out. Paisani, Hooper, Koroibete all burrow to push the attacking breakdowns within 10m. There’s a penalty advantage called but the ball keeps being recycled. France are ragged but clinging on as Gordon almost finds a gap - and play comes back for the penalty.
In worrying news Koroibete is in pain, holding his left wrist, which is already heavily taped.
42 mins: Australia 13-16 France - The Wallabies continue their running game, keeping the ball in hand from the restart, 10m from their own line, but after gaining 30m there’s a spillage and France mount a forward-heavy drive that takes them deep into the 22. Drive after drive crosses the gain line, but by the time Gros reaches the 5m marker there’s a breakdown penalty with the French not releasing under pressure from Hooper.
We’re all set for the second-half...
For the Wallabies, Marika Koroibete was blistering, and on another day could have had a hat-trick of first-half tries. Special mention also has to go to Taniela Tupou for his outrageous play from the back of the ruck, spinning a bullet cutout pass to set-up Australia’s try.
There are still too many errors - especially at the attacking breakdown - and combinations in the backline continue to look ropey. However, there is a clear strategy and character emerging, and the set-pieces have been crisp. It hasn’t all clicked yet under Dave Rennie, but it’s clear to see the work in progress.
Half-time: Australia 13-16 France
An entertaining half of rugby that deservedly ends with the game in the balance. France, as they did in game one, continued to profit from Australian errors, but the Wallabies profited from their willingness to run and take the game on. Credit must go to Michael Hooper for his decision to go for the try late in the half when a penalty was on offer. A bold call that paid dividends.
TRY! Australia 13-16 France (Gordon, 38)
It’s another superb lineout and the maul looks destined for a try. Then the ball is sent infield and there’s an overlap - but Wright accepts contact instead of keeping the move alive! France regroup, there’s slow ball on the line and the sting is out of the drive but Tupou - wow! At the breakdown the big prop plays scrum-half and throws a cutout pass to his left when Gordon is on the whitewash, collects the incredible pass, and dives over. Finally, the Wallabies can celebrate a try.
Lolesio kicks a teasing left-to-right fade from the touchline to add a superb conversion.
37 mins: Australia 6-16 France - Deary me, absolute shambles of a kick-off restart from France. Woki steps on Bandy’s foot while they both had eyes on the high kick. It gifts Australia a lineout 10m out, which soon becomes a massed drive to the line. After four tight phases the ball goes to the backs infield and there’s a half-break until Toomua is hauled down and play is called back for a penalty. Australia ignore the three points and kick to the corner.
PENALTY! Australia 6-16 France (Jaminet, 35)
Simples. France back to a double-figure lead.
33 mins: Australia 6-13 France - It’s a good scrum and allows France to gallop into Australia’s 22 down the left. This is the first time the visitors have had multi-phase attacking play all night. They pick and go until phase nine when there’s an attacking penalty against Paenga-Amosa, and it’s accepted under the posts.
32 mins: Australia 6-13 France - Another handling error, this time by Toomua, invites France to feed a scrum 35m out in midfield. The error came about by a stray pass infield from the left after Koroibete had collected a high ball with awesome height, confidence, and momentum. He was like a cannonball Australia’s star man so far tonight.
29 mins: Australia 6-13 France - Australia (Philip) disrupt France’s defensive lineout and set up an attacking platform 10m out. But - you’ve heard this script before - once the ball is sent infield from the right there’s a penalty at the breakdown when Lolesio holds on too long on the ground. Countless such opportunities have been squandered in the 110 minutes of this series so far by the hosts.
29 mins: Australia 6-13 France - Excellent lineout from the Wallabies with fast ball off the back. Five quick phases pass in the blink of an eye before the ball is flung to the right wing - it looked forward from Toomua - then Wright kicks forward and it rolls into touch.
28 mins: Australia 6-13 France - Tupou is back in the thick of the action, nailing Jaminet on halfway to the “oooohs” of the crowd. It’s a scrappy passage from both sides though that ends with a Wallabies penalty on their own 22 after a breakdown infringement.
PENALTY! Australia 6-13 France (Lolesio, 26)
Australia continue to run, this time looking to Tupou and Hooper to nip in under the big French locks, and it pays dividends with the Australian captain earning a penalty for a high tackle.
TRY! Australia 3-13 France (Penaud, 22)
France attack behind a maul following a lineout on halfway but the ball is slow as Paisami and Australia’s line moves up quickly. The drive gains a second wind but as it rumbles to the 22m the ball is lost and Banks can run back into broken field. That soon results in a turnover though and Penaud marshals it superbly on the right wing, swapping passes with Azagoh, and he crosses for the first try.
Jaminet belts over another handsome kick to extend the lead to ten points.
20 mins: Australia 3-6 France - Not for the first time this series Australia string together a seven or eight phase passage that gains momentum in midfield but ends with a penalty turnover. You can see the makings of a promising side if these errors can be eradicated.
18 mins: Australia 3-6 France - Marika Koroibete is a man on a mission tonight. He returns the France kick-off like one of those NFL special teams returners, barreling his way 60m back into French territory. The move breaks down in sight of the French line, but the clearing kick is soon back in golden hands.
PENALTY! Australia 3-6 France (Lolesio, 17)
Australia win a powerful scrum enabling Gordon to snipe 15m deep into French territory. The ball is recycled and yet again is sent left but the combination between Banks and Koroibete is not in synch.
France cough up possession soon afterwards though and the Wallaby forwards get to work with a series of short penetrating drives with quick ball until there’s space wide on the left for Koroibete... but the long pass from Toomua floated forward.
Nonetheless, there was a penalty advantage under the sticks that Lolesio cannot miss.
12 mins: Australia 0-6 France - France kick away possession, so guess what Australia do? That’s right, attack immediately through their backs to the left-hand side. Marika Koroibete is powerful again to push well over halfway before the move cuts infield. But it ends disappointingly with the French winning another turnover penalty with Gordon this time caught under the ball. They kick to halfway, secure safe lineout ball, then Vincent drops a soda in midfield.
PENALTY! Australia 0-6 France (Jaminet, 10)
And now France add insult to injury, extending their lead with another Jaminet penalty. The French pack won their own ball at the scrum and as the drive continued Gordon was pinged for offside. What’s French for Déjà vu?
9 mins: Australia 0-3 France - Marika Koroibete with a super individual try! Australia continue their intent to spread the ball early and pound that left edge - and this time it works. Gordon is expansive, Toomua is spot on, and Koroibete nails his run from out to in to perfection, hitting the gainline hard, bursting through the gap and slaloming his way 30m to the line.
Annnnnnnnnnd it’s called back an absolute age later for a clear knock-on by Wright that was inexplicably missed at the time. A failure of communication between winger and fullback, the ball bounced following a France kick and it was fumbled. Somehow play was allowed to continue at the time.
6 mins: Australia 0-3 France - Gah! Classic Wallabies in an instant there. After shaping to kick to the corner following an offside penalty Australia instead play across the backline at pace - but Paisami loses in contact and the excitement in the crowd dissipates. France’s backs respond with an error of their own before their forwards spare their blushes with a lineout steal.
4 mins: Australia 0-3 France - The Wallabies quickly get the ball back in their hands and begin a series of patient phases through the middle of AAMI Park. Eventually they accept an advantage, which is taken quickly with a dart that gains 20m. The patient multi-phase resumes - although Hooper throws a very forward-looking pass that’s not picked up. Not that it matters as France steal a turnover at the breakdown.
PENALTY! Australia 0-3 France (Jaminet, 3 mins)
That’s a superb penalty from 40m on a slight angle. France have an early lead once again.
Updated
1 mins: Australia 0-0 France - Tidy start from both sides, France conservative after securing the kick-off, Australia immediately more expansive, sending the ball wide to the left wing early. It results in an early penalty though with Paisami nailed by the formidable Danty and in his isolation gives up a scoring opportunity.
Kick-off!
The second Test between Australia and France is underway...
Time for the brilliant La Marseillaise. Knocks Advance Australia Fair into a coqued hat.
The teams are out onto the turf at AAMI Park. France are top to toe in blue (with the sensible addition of a white tracksuit top for the anthems). Australia are in their new extra-golden jerseys, green shorts and socks. They’re going short sleeved, presumably winning the early psychological battle in the process.
“Accuracy is key,” Dave Rennie has just said. “We want to get off to a fast start.”
If you’re wondering what’s happening on the brand new Australian TV coverage, Andrew Mehrtens is wearing a beret, an eye-liner moustache, and talking through some “funny” social media in a “French” accent. It ends with a baguette pun. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.
“Il fait froid!” said a member of France’s squad when he ran out of the AAMI Park tunnel for his side’s captain’s run. And he’s not wrong, it is cold in Melbourne. Temperatures will be around 11C at kick-off, but they’ll feel even fresher with a chilly northerly breeze. It’s been dry all day, and should remain that way throughout the 80 minutes, although there is a slight risk of a shower much later on.
Updated
And in other international rugby news, the Lions tour is going far from swimmingly.
In other Australian rugby news, apparently 20 years of residency and 70 caps for the Wallabies isn’t enough to make a bloke a citizen.
Bret Harris paid close attention to the opening Test and reckons for a side like the Wallabies, at this stage of their development, a win’s a win.
France XV
By contrast, France have rung the changes, making five changes, all in the pack. Prop Wilfrid Hounkpatin and lock Pierre-Henri Azagoh will make their debuts, Cyril Cazeaux also comes into the second row, while Cameron Woki and Ibrahim Diallo will pack down at the back of the scrum.
Of Azagoh, coach Fabien Galthié said: “He plays in the shadows, he’s a worker, very active who shows a lot of intelligence and doesn’t play for himself. He can be another revelation on this tour.”
The backline remains the same with Galthié keen to expose his inexperienced group to the pressure of Test rugby.
🟡🟢 Votre 𝐗𝐕 𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞́𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 pour le 2ème test-match contre les @wallabies !
— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) July 11, 2021
👉 Rendez-vous à 12h00 sur @canalplus mardi 13 juillet 🔥🔥#XVdeFrance #NeFaisonsXV #AUSFRA pic.twitter.com/1dr6xRThAM
Australia XV
Surprisingly perhaps, given the compressed series, Dave Rennie has selected an unchanged matchday squad. These is one alteration to the starting XV though with Taniela Tupou rewarded for his impact as a substitute in game one with a spot in the front row. He pushes Alan Alaalatoa to the interchange. “Taniela made a real impact on both sides of the ball when he came on in at Suncorp Stadium and we’ll be looking for him to do the same from the get-go in Melbourne,” Rennie said.
James O’Connor is now fit and available for selection, but Rennie is taking no risks this early in the international season.
🇦🇺 #YourTeam for #AUSvFRA at @AAMIPark tonight!
— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 13, 2021
⏰ TONIGHT 8:00pm AEST
🎫 https://t.co/9biW2GsHUT
📺 @9Gem & @StanSportAU #Wallabies @eToro pic.twitter.com/qjOWkUZMBA
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the Wallabies v France, Australia’s second international of 2021. Kick-off at Melbourne’s AAMI Park is 8pm.
After seven months without Test ruby we’re back for the second time in a week as we reach the midpoint of France’s three-Test tour. The opening match was a disjointed affair that France led for the majority of the 80 minutes only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in embarrassing fashion at the death.
The manner of the triumph was far from convincing, but after a shaky opening 20 minutes the Wallabies grew into the dominant side. Coach Dave Rennie is hoping that control begins at the kick-off tonight. “We need to start fast, be more clinical and turn pressure into points at AAMI Park on Tuesday night,” he said.
There will be plenty of attention on Australia’s backline in particular after it collectively failed to fire in Brisbane. It remains to be seen how much is down to ring rust and how much is simply finding out that some players in gold jerseys are not up to the task at this level.
Despite their late brain fade France can be pleased with their first Test shift. This is far from a first XV so to run Australia so close, in a country they haven’t tasted success in since 1990, deserves credit. Hopefully, after further acclimatisation and time outside quarantine, Les Bleus can show even more.
I’ll be back with line-ups and more shortly, and if you want to contribute anything to tonight’s blog, you can do so by sending me emails or tweets.
