A typically raucous French crowd had reason to applaud early as Frederic Michalak opened his side’s account with a penalty goal after four minutes. The Wallabies showed they were not about to be pushed round, and responded immediately throught the reliable boot of fullback Mike Harris. Even stevens ten minutes in.
The traditional achilles heal of the Australian pack is the scrum and France soon displayed their edge there. International debutantes Yannick Forestier and Jocelino Suta, buoyed by their vast experience in the Top 14, looked totally unphased as they prepared to pack down. From five metres out the scrum wheeled left and number eight Louis Picamoles galloped over the line and under the posts untouched to give France a 7 point lead.
Centurion captain Nathan Sharpe had a word with his troops and they fired straight back again, and this time with gusto. Harris kicked his second and the Wallabies turned up the tempo. Wave after wave of attack was repelled by the French wall but just when it appeared to crack little unforced errors by the Australians would offer brief relief. After ten minutes of sustained pressure but no points conceded it was the scrum that again got France out of trouble, winning another penalty and allowing them to clear their lines.
From the lineout drive Picamoles burst twenty metres straight ahead and France began to go through the phases. Sekope Kepu was too slow to roll away and Michalak took the points. With the pendulum now firmly back on the side of Les Bleus they pressed on and this time fabulous Freddie opted for a timely drop goal to open a 10 point gap just at the half.
Robbie Deans would have hoped that the break would diffuse the French fire somewhat but the onslaught continued in the second half. When Australia did get the ball, they were constantly hit behind the gainline as France rarely challenged at the breakdown, instead keeping their numbers out wide. With Australia out of ideas, a poor clearance from Beale was superbly countered by Michalak and the maestro found Wesley Fofana in support to score a classic French try.
Sensing his side’s desperation, Deans sent on veterans Berrick Barnes, Stephen Moore, and Radike Samo. There was to be no saving on this occasion, however, as the France brought in the vaunted Clermont front row from the bench and they turned the screw at the scrum, winning a penalty try and sealing a comprehensive victory for Les Bleus. To make matters worse Rob Simmons might have escaped being sent off for a spear tackle on Yannick Nyanga because none of the officials could see his number, but his tour will almost certainly be over via suspension.
The margin of victory was the biggest for France over the Wallabies since 1976, coming short of the record by only a single point. Under-strength Australia was always going to be up against it at the Stade de France, but the difference between the two sides was such that Deans’ status as coach, already questioned, must be seriously under threat now. For Philippe Saint-Andre and his men, a good night in Paris and a week to prepare for the surging Manu Samoa.
SCORING
04 mins – Frederic Michalak pen 3-0
08 mins – Mike Harris pen 3-3
12 mins – Louis Picamoles try 3-8
12 mins – Frederic Michalak con 3-10
21 mins – Mike Harris pen 6-10
35 mins – Frederic Michalak pen 6-13
39 mins – Frederic Michalak dg 6-16
54 mins – Wesley Fofana try 6-21
55 mins – Frederic Michalak con 6-23
63 mins – France penalty try 6-28
64 mins – Frederic Michalak con 6-30
76 mins – Morgan Parra pen 6-33
FRANCE
Brice Dulin; Wesley Fofana, Florian Fritz (Yoann Huget 60), Maxime Mermoz, Vincent Clerc; Frederic Michalak (Francois Trinh-Duc 74), Maxime Machenaud (Morgan Parra 63); Yannick Forestier (Thomas Domingo 49), Dimitri Szarzewski (Benjamin Kayser 49), Nicolas Mas (Vincent Debaty 60); Jocelino Suta, Pascal Pape (capt.); Yannick Nyanga (Sebastien Vaha’amahina 68), Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles (Damien Chouly 65).
AUSTRALIA
Mike Harris (Berrick Barnes 56); Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Tapuai, Pat McCabe, Nick Cummins; Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps; Benn Robinson (James Slipper 28-36) (Paddy Ryan 65), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Stephen Moore 59), Sekope Kepu (James Slipper 49); Kane Douglas, Nathan Sharpe (capt.) (Rob Simmons 65); Dave Dennis (Liam Gill 69), Michael Hooper, Wycliff Palu (Radike Samo 59).
