Match Details

Qantas Wallabies

VS

France

	34	ANZ Stadium, Sydney Kick off times: 8:05pm (Local) Sat 28 Jun 8:05pm (AEST) Sat 28 Jun	13
	Head to Head: Played 38 : Australia 20, France 16, Drawn 2 Last Time: 05/07/08 : Australia 40 - France 10 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

An extraordinary attacking display in the second half saw the Qantas Wallabies convert a 10 – 6 half time lead to a 34 – 13 victory over France in the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test played at ANZ Stadium in Sydney tonight.

The win equaled Australia' s second biggest winning margin against the French of 21 points.

The match was tightly poised at the break but two tries within four minutes of the re-start, one each to lock Nathan Sharpe and flanker Rocky Elsom, set up a comfortable victory for the Wallabies.

The first opportunity to score came in the 4^th minute when France were penalised for diving into a ruck forty metres out straight in front by referee Marius Jonker but Matt Giteau’s penalty attempt faded wide.

France were the next to threaten in the 8th minute when young winger Alexis Palisson made good on his pre-game boast to take on Qantas Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri by making good ground down the right hand side but his kick ahead went in to touch on the full.

Robust French lock Sebastien Chabal was causing havoc in the Wallabies line out early on stealing some throw-ins from Australia.

On 13 minutes a perfect cross-field kick from Giteau found Tuqiri all alone on the left hand touch line but Lote seemed to lose the ball in the crowd and the chance went begging.

In the 18^th minute another ruck infringement by France, holding on against centre Damien Traille, gave Giteau another chance. He made no mistake from 25 metres out just to the right of the post to put the Wallabies up 3 – 0.

French fullback Pepito Elhorga was hit by two of the big men in the Wallaby pack, Elsom and No.8 Wycliff Palu, who picked up the dimunitive French fullback and drove him into the turf.

The tackle was deemed legal but Elsom was harshly penalised for not rolling away giving France a chance to even the scores. Scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili added the penalty from almost directly in front, forty metres out, to make it 3- 3 afer 22 minutes.

Elhorga was replaced after damaging his shoulder in the heavy tackle with Bourgoin’s giant winger David Janin coming on for his first Test cap.

The Wallabies dominated possession and territory for the next five minutes with inside centre Berrick Barnes making some neat half breaks but they were unable to convert their opportunities to post the first try of the game.

Tuqiri was replaced with 11 minutes to go in the first half with a knee injury, with Adam Ashley-Cooper coming on to take his place on the left wing.

Australialooked dangerous soon after with captain Stirling Mortlock making two powerful charges in midfield followed by some excellent interchanges between the forwards which saw prop Benn Robinson charging down the field.

A few rucks later Barnes scythed through the scrambling French defence but slipped just as he seemed set to score.

But with four minutes to go in the first half the French resolve finally broke with fullback Cameron Shepherd launching a counter-attack from a poorly directed French kick which he took on his own 22.

He made a break down the right wing before passing on the outside to Mortlock who found Ashley-Cooper in support. Cooper was brought down on French 22 but from the next ruck the ball was spun wide where Giteau sped through a gap to score next to the posts.

Giteau converted his own try to put the Wallabies up 10 – 3.

Shepherd then failed to find touch with a clearance kick after the half time siren and France launched a spirited attack. They took it through a number of phases before outside centre Francois Trinh-Duc toed ahead.

The ball then bounced from Shepherd on to an offside Wallaby player resulting in a penalty to France just inside the Wallaby 22. Yachvili slotted his second penalty to make it 10 – 6 to Australia at half time.

As the teams ran back on after half time Palu, who was suffering with a shoulder injury, was replaced by NSW Waratahs captain Phil Waugh.

The Wallabies started the second half in much more aggressive mood with scrumhalf Luke Burgess making a strong break from a line out, palming off two French defenders in a thirty metre run.

The ball then spun wide to Barnes who was stopped inches from the line before from the next ruck Burgess popped the ball up to Sharpe who dove over through a jungle of French legs to score Australia’s second try. Giteau converted from five metres to the right of the posts to put the Wallabies out to 17 – 6.

Moments later the Wallabies were nearly further in front after a quickly tapped penalty was spun wide to winger Man of the Match Peter Hynes who made a great break down the right hand touch line before cutting in and popping a pass up to fellow Queenslander, lock James Horwill, who showed surprising pace to nearly touch down before Jonker sought the help of the TMO before judging the big Red had been held up over the line.

But only a minute later Australia were in for their third try. The ball was spun to Giteau from a ruck only five metres out from the French line. Giteau ran cross field and popped a beautiful inside ball up to Elsom who charged over for the try. Giteau again converted from a similar position to Sharpe’s try to make it 24 – 6 with Australia threatening to cut loose.

Australia went close again moments later but France were penalised for a ruck infringement in front of the posts and Giteau landed his second penalty to put the Wallabies 21 points clear.

France then enjoyed an excellent spell of attack, their best of the match, camping on the Wallaby line before flanker George Smith earned a ruck penalty against the French for holding on and the pressure was relieved.

Then with 23 minutes to go there came a huge moment for Western Force centre Ryan Cross coming on for Barnes to earn his first cap. He was followed soon after by young Brumbies prop Ben Alexander who came on for another Benn, Robinson, to also win his first Test cap.

Australia raced away even further on the 62^nd minute when Mortlock intercepted a Traille pass to race thirty metres and score under the posts. Giteau again converted to make the score 34 – 6.

On the 65^th minute mark another change by coach Robbie Deans with loose forward Dean Mumm coming on for the hardworking Smith.

France got over for their first try shortly afterwards when after some sustained pressure Palisson managed to plant the ball on the line despite a huge tackle by Mortlock. Tranh-Duc converted to bring the score back to 34 – 13.

With ten minutes to go Deans cleared his bench with Queensland Reds scrumhalf Sam Cordingley coming on for Burgess and NSW Waratahs hooker Adam Freier on for Stephen Moore.

France pressed the Wallabies line in the final minutes but the Wallabies held out for a comprehensive win.

Full Time score

Qantas Wallabies 34(Matt Giteau, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, Stirling Mortlock tries, Giteau 4 conversions, 2 penalties) defeated France13 (Alexis Palisson try, Francois Trinh-Duc conversion, Dimitri Yachvili 2 penalties) at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. (Half time: Wallabies 10 – France 6) Crowd: 48,899.