Australia 26-42 France
Date:
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Attendance: 52,121
Australia v France Match Reports
France beat Australia 42-26 in a fast-paced and entertaining Nations Championship encounter in Brisbane. The visitors made a flying start when Emmanuel Meafou powered over inside three minutes. Brandon Paenga-Amosa replied for Australia before Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang restored France's lead, but two tries from Fraser McReight helped the Wallabies take a 21-12 advantage into half-time. France dominated the second half as Grandidier-Nkanang completed his brace before Romain Ntamack and Florian Verhaeghe both crossed to turn the game around. Theo Attissogbe added a sixth French try in the closing stages before Jeremy Williams scored a late consolation try to secure a bonus point for Australia. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- BBC: Six-try France fight back to beat Wallabies
- Guardian: Wallabies extend losing streak after being blown away by France in Nations Championship
- Telegraph: France run riot in second-half comeback to humble sorry Wallabies
- Sydney Morning Herald: Wallabies lament second-half slumps after French inflict another defeat
- Wallabies Rugby: France equal 60-year record in historic second-half performance against Wallabies
Australia v France - Match Highlights
Australia v France - Match Stats
Australia (21) 26
Try: Paenga-Amosa (10'), McReight (27', 34'), Williams (77')
Conversion: Lonergan (11', 28', 35')
France (12) 42
Try: Meafou (3'), Grandidier-Nkanang (18', 50'), Ntamack (53'), Verhaeghe (57'), Attissogbe (73')
Conversion: Lucu (4', 54', 58')
Penalty: Lucu (46', 63')
Man of the match: Romain Ntamack (France)
Australia v France - Team Line-ups
Australia Team
Forwards
- 1 Angus Bell
- 2 Josh Nasser
- 3 Allan Alaalatoa
- 4 Josh Canham
- 5 Jeremy Williams
- 6 Rob Valetini
- 7 Fraser McReight
- 8 Harry Wilson (Captain)
Backs
- 9 Ryan Lonergan
- 10 Declan Meredith
- 11 Dylan Pietsch
- 12 Len Ikitau
- 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
- 14 Max Jorgensen
- 15 Tom Wright
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 Team
Forwards
- 1 Moses Alo-Emile
- 2 Peato Mauvaka
- 3 Demba Bamba
- 4 Florian Verhaeghe
- 5 Emmanuel Meafou
- 6 Lenni Nouchi
- 7 Oscar Jegou
- 8 Marko Gazzotti
Backs
- 9 Maxime Lucu (Captain)
- 10 Romain Ntamack
- 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang
- 12 Yoram Moefana
- 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie
- 14 Théo Attissogbe
- 15 Matthieu Jalibert
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