AUSTRALIA scored three tries in the first 17 minutes before staving off a French fightback to beat the Five Nations champions 26-19 and win their two-match international series in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Wallabies, who beat the French 29-15 in Sydney last Saturday, began boldly to lead 17-0, but they then had to withstand long periods of Gallic pressure in the second-half to take the match.

France did not score their first points until the 21st minute, and for a time it looked as though the majestic goal-kicking skills of centre Philippe Lamaison would get them home as they trailed only 20-19 after 48 minutes.

But the Australians showed great courage in holding off a concerted period of pressure from the giant French forward pack on their try-line with 15 minutes to play, before they took play up field and put the tiring French under pressure themselves as the clock wound down.

Lamaison, who missed the Sydney Test with groin trouble, was in excellent goal-kicking touch, landing four penalty goals and converting centre partner

Thomas Castaignede's 37th-minute try for a match tally of 14 points.

Australian skipper John Eales was the man-of-the-match with inspirational work in the ruck's and mauls and helped the Wallabies glean a 15-10 share of the line-outs. Eales also tallied 11 points from a conversion and three penalties from seven attempts.

The French game, except for the opening 17 minutes, was far more disciplined than their display in Sydney, and they conceded only eight penalties to Australia's six, issued by Welsh referee Clayton Thomas.

Dax number eight Fabian Pelous who had an excellent game in the loose, was fortunate to finish the game after referee Thomas gave him a severe dressing-down along with rival number eight Troy Coker for an unseemly wrestling match on the ground in the first half.

Thomas could be clearly heard on sideline microphones telling both players that they were on their last warning, yet Pelous pole-axed Australian flanker David Wilson with a head-high tackle.