Wallabies Defeat France

[Darren]

Superstar five-eighth Matt Giteau scored all the points as the Qantas Wallabies issued a warning to their Tri Nations rivals with a 22-6 triumph over in-form France at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Giteau bagged Australia's only try and nailed a conversion and five penalties in another flawless display of goalkicking as the Wallabies completed their June internationals unbeaten.

Giteau's haul was just three points shy of Matt Burke's all-time record against France, achieved in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final victory in Cardiff.

The well-earned win completed a perfect four-from-four Tri Nations preparation for the Wallabies following earlier wins over the Barbarians and twin successes against Italy.

Compared to the fifth-ranked French, though, the Baa Baas and Azzurri are two of world Rugby's lesser lights and the Wallabies were eager to step it up a notch ahead their Bledisloe Cup opener with the All Blacks in Auckland in three weeks' time.

They did just that, keeping Les Bleus - who were fresh off an impressive drawn series with the All Blacks in New Zealand - tryless to maintain their 18-year domination of France on Australian soil.

Coach Robbie Deans was chuffed with the performance, hailing the Wallabies' defence as the best of his 20-Test reign.

"Definitely in terms of collective understanding," Deans said.

"The French are a capable side and we suppressed their opportunities and we did it in a way that was organised and positive and enthusiastic - and we sustained it.

"So that's encouraging because we know from here we're going to get a serious test in the Tri Nations. The ante is going to go up.

"But it's been a solid month for us. It's been a really good background for us and that was a better than solid performance, to be fair.

"There were elements that we'd been working on that we had some visible growth - defence obviously, but also the way the boys played the 80.

"It was a full team effort. Everyone got involved in the game and added something, which is something we've been working hard at as well."

While Giteau again grabbed most of the plaudits, champion flanker George Smith - playing his record-equalling 11th Test against France and 99th in total - provided the inspiration for Australia's fourth straight win over Les Bleus.

Smith was in everything as the Australian pack more than matched the highly-rated French forwards to lay the platform for the Wallabies backs.

"He's a special player," Deans said.

"He's played 99 Tests, but you wouldn't think so watching him today. You'd think it was his first in terms of the enthusiasm that he brings to it."

It wasn't always pretty but when the Wallabies backs did execute for the only try of the night, it was impressive stuff.

Giteau started and finished the 40-metre movement.

His long cut-out pass found skipper Stirling Mortlock, who drew the defence to release Lachie Turner and the winger then found Berrick Barnes in support before he delivered a neat final pass to Giteau.

Giteau's conversion gave the Wallabies a 7-0 lead after 18 minutes.

A penalty from flyhalf Lionel Beauxis briefly narrowed the deficit to four points, but Giteau replied to give Australia a 10-3 lead at the break.

Four more penalties between the 43rd and 56th minutes put the result beyond doubt.

http://rugby.com.au/news/aap/s-58371.../section/21893

[Burgs]

Some of the work George did last night was amongst his career best, outstanding.
A lot can happen with a couple of weeks in training camp, but on the selections of both sides so far and watching all matches I am quietly confident going into the first Bledisloe.

[Sheikh]

Burgs, you weren't far off with 28-7 (although technically you can't write 28 as XXIIX, it's XXVIII).

Deans' has used his squad depth well, everyone's got a game (well, except Lote) and after run-outs against the Barbars (always tough, but not exactly a hard match) and the Italians (soft) we beat a French side who asked serious questions of the ABs.

The only fly in the ointment for the 3N is that the Jarpies have beaten the Irish Lions twice and Ireland won the 6N.

[Flamethrower]

I thought Baxter scowled well.

[welshrugbyfan]

Cmon it was a crap boring game. The French weren't the same team that played that first week against the AB's.

Rugby needs to be a one point decider one that can be won in the last two or three minutes. Not over at half time.

The AB's look awful and hopefully the Boks will give the Wallabies some much needed competition.

[jono]

hopefully not that much competition. i want the 3N as well as the bledisloe

[JediKnight]

An ordinary game, made worse by some very strange ref decisions, coupled with the French appearing to be halfway back to Paris. The Aussies played well & deserved the win.

Anyone else notice Mortlock's cynical & disgraceful shepherding (actually, it was more like a shoulder charge!) of the French defender as he was lining up a tackle on Turner in the build-up to the only try?

[pieter blackie]

Australia played poorly, France made it easy for them. If the Wallabies play like this in the Tri Nations then there is no hope. They have the right players but there is no hart no commitment no aggression. Al Baxter was useless, a decent prop will turn him upside down in 20min

[sandgroperrugby]

Jedi I Did notice the Shepherd from Mortlock it would have changed the game a bit if he had been penalised it was pretty blatant.

[KenyaQuin]

Got to agree that it wasn't a very exciting game, if at all, and especially when compared to the Bok game which followed soon after.

I had the feeling that the French had had enough of touring having achieved their one big game win in New Zealand.

Would have loved to have seen more Wallaby subs brought in early in the second half (50min mark). I think the game was well over by then. The Wallabies could have been more ambitious with some of their kickable penalties, gone for the lineout and attacked for the try.

[James]

Australia played poorly, France made it easy for them. If the Wallabies play like this in the Tri Nations then there is no hope. They have the right players but there is no hart no commitment no aggression. Al Baxter was useless, a decent prop will turn him upside down in 20min

I didn't think Baxter was that bad. It was pretty clear that the French were using every dirty trick in the book. You look at the way that Baxter and the French 1 went to ground and it definitely looked like the French guy was responsible for most of it. They were penalised a lot on our attacking scrums.

[Burgs]

Thanks Sheikh, a) I was waiting for someone to notice (bit like the clocks that have IIII for 4) and 2) I was tipping the 2nd Italian Test

[JediKnight]

I didn't think Baxter was that bad.

Apart from the one collapsed scrum when he came up with line-marking all over his face!!! Hilarious!!!

[tdevil]

The only fly in the ointment for the 3N is that the Jarpies have beaten the Irish Lions twice and Ireland won the 6N.

And your point is???
Big difference between the Lions and Ireland (The first test featured only 4 Irish players)
The Yarpies didn't impress me at all against a very average performing Lions.

[jargan83]

Solid hit out before the 3N, I didn't think Australia were as bad as some have suggested. The French tackled/defended pretty well and when we did have them on the ropes it was usually the last pass or a handling error that let us down, a few of the Refs calls went our way but that happens in any game in any sport.

Cmon it was a crap boring game. The French weren't the same team that played that first week against the AB's.

Rugby needs to be a one point decider one that can be won in the last two or three minutes. Not over at half time.

We can only play who they put out on the park

If Wales had a test won at half time you would be all over that result like a fat kid on a chocolate cake