In a crazy match, where the two teams led in the score, it is finally the French team which imposes itself at the end of the suspense.
At the end of the suspense, the XV of France managed to overcome Australia (30-29) to continue their crazy series of invincibility. With an eleventh success in a row – a historic record – the Blues are ideally starting their autumn tour before facing world champions South Africa and then Japan. But it was hard for the men of Fabien Galthié. Long imprecise and undisciplined (10 penalties conceded), they relied on a personal feat by Damian Penaud in the last moments (75th) to deliver the Stade de France.
While the start of the match was summed up in winning the field where the scorers Thomas Ramos and Bernard Foley went blow for blow by passing two penalties, the meeting began to come alive at the quarter of an hour of play. Charles Ollivon was logically denied a try after having flattened while he was on the ground (15th) and on the recovery that followed, the Wallabies scored a magnificent try after a 90-meter counter. After dropping Damian Penaud on his wing, Tom Wright finds his center Lalakai Foketi who finishes the job 50 meters further by flattening despite the return of Romain Ntamack (17th). A few minutes later, the unfortunate Australian center left injured after being hit in the ankle and gave way to Hunter Paisami (24th).
Led 13 to 6, the Blues relied on accuracy at the foot of Thomas Ramos (7/9, 20 points this evening) to return to a small point before Julien Marchand scored the first French try after the siren (40th). After a recovery and a game at the foot of Gaël Fickou, Antoine Dupont managed to put pressure on Andrew Kellaway in front of his in-goal before his supporters were illustrated by a devastating counter-ruck which brought the test of their hooker. Halfway, the XV of France therefore led 19 to 13.
The spark of Damian Penaud delivers the Blues
Returning from the locker room, Bernard Foley and Thomas Ramos added three new points on either side before the Wallabies accelerated again just before the hour mark. On a throw into touch, James Slipper’s teammates set the French defense before sending the game wide where Bernard Foley finds his back Jock Campbell, who accelerates to score despite the return of Romain Ntamack. After the transformation, Australia went back in front: 23-22.
Back to the wall, the Blues multiply the inaccuracies and gross faults which allow the Wallabies to stand out (29-25, 74th). With failing executives as evidenced by the jagged performances of Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack or Gaël Fickou, the XV of France therefore relies on a personal exploit to get by. Served at the end of the line by Matthieu Jalibert, Damian Penaud obliterates Tom Wright with an inside hook by giving him back his own coin on the first Australian try before sharpening Jock Campbell to propel himself into the in-goal, under the thunderous applause from the Dionysian setting.
In a tense end to the match, the French hold on and on a final scraping on the ground by Jonathan Danty, they savor a narrow but oh so important success to launch their tour and continue a series engraved in the history books. It’s up to them to pursue it against the South African world champions (defeated this afternoon by Ireland 19 to 16) next Saturday in Marseille.