Australia 22 France 6: A CONFIDENT AUSTRALIA have set their sights on toppling world champions South Africa and arch-rivals New Zealand after a perfect start to the Southern Hemisphere international season.
The Wallabies chalked up their fourth successive win over France at the Olympic stadium in Sydney on Saturday to maintain an impressive run.
Australia were also untroubled winning their earlier matches against the Barbarians and Italy and coach Robbie Deans said his team could not have hoped for a better preparation for the Tri-Nations. “It’s been a solid month for us. It’s been a really good background for us,” Deans said. “This was a good test for us and I think we passed.”
Australia have not won the Tri-Nations since 2001 but believe this year’s series is shaping as one of the most open in years. They have conceded just two tries in their four matches after Deans dismantled the rugby league style defensive system they had used for the past decade and replaced it with his own strategy.
“We’ve become so programmed in our rugby in probably the last 10 years or so – everything was a programmed response and now under Robbie we’re playing what’s in front of us,” Australia centre Berrick Barnes said. “There’s no great science to it. It’s just simple. It’s using your eyes and using what’s in front of you.”
Matt Giteau scored all his team’s points. He scored a try and kicked six goals in a brilliant solo display that was matched by Australia’s superb defence. “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,” Deans told a news conference. “It was a full team effort.”
France had not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 1990 but came into the match with high hopes after drawing their two-Test series against New Zealand this month. They were missing a handful of first-choice players but were outplayed by an impressive Wallaby team who tackled everything the French threw at them.
The match began at a frantic pace with both teams throwing the ball around and hitting each other hard in defence but it was not long before the Australians started to take control. They missed an early chance to score when wing Drew Mitchell dropped the ball over the line in the left corner but opened their account in the 18th minute with a try from Giteau.
The 26-year-old initiated the move when he flung the ball wide to captain Stirling Mortlock then finished it off when he collected the final pass from inside centre Berrick Barnes.
France almost scored when skipper Thierry Dusautoir charged down a clearance from Giteau but had to be content with a penalty from outhalf Lionel Beauxis after flanker George Smith tackled Damien Traille late.
The Wallabies stretched their lead to 10-3 at half-time when Giteau landed the first of his penalties in the 27th minute. He slotted over another four penalties in the first 17 minutes of the second half as France’s discipline let them down. The tourists broke Australia’s scoring sequence when scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili booted their second penalty on the hour.
AUSTRALIA: Ashley-Cooper; Turner, Mortlock, Barnes, Mitchell; Giteau, Burgess; Robinson, Moore, Baxter, Horwill, Sharpe, Mumm, Smith, Brown. Replacements: Cross for Mortlock (76 mins), O'Connor for Barnes (70 mins), Valentine for Burgess (72 mins), Polota-Nau for Moore (60 mins), Alexander for Baxter (55 mins), Pocock for Horwill (62 mins), Waugh for Brown (74 mins).
FRANCE: Traille; Medard, Fritz, Mermoz, Heymans; Beauxis, Yachvili; Barcella, Szarzewski, Marconnet, Pape, Millo-Chluski, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Puricelli. Replacements: Arias for Fritz (55 mins), Guirado for Szarzewski (61 mins), Mas for Marconnet (51 mins), Martin for Millo-Chluski (62 mins), Dupuy for Puricelli (66 mins).
Referee: D Pearson(England).
