Saturday 13 November 2004

France 27 Australia 14

France outgunned Australia in a pulsating match in Paris for a first win over the Wallabies for three years.

Nicolas Brusque and Frederic Michalak scored tries and scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde kicked 17 points for France's eighth straight win.

Captain George Gregan scored for the Wallabies but his side were undone by French invention and stout defence.

Australia trailed 12-11 at half time and struggled to find their spark against the Six Nations champions.

France coach Bernard Laporte said:  "I am proud of my players.  They battled to win this match by applying a lot of defensive pressure and taking risks.

"And don't forget we were kept out three times on the try line."

Australia coach Eddie Jones admitted his side "just weren't good enough".

"The second half was really disappointing, there were too many turnovers.  We would have needed to be tactically and technically better.  We didn't respond to the pressure," said Jones.

"Our consistency was not good enough.  We went back to our old habits.  It just wasn't good enough."


Points Scorers:

France:  (12) 27
Tries:  Brusque, Michalak
Cons:  Elissalde
Pens:  Elissalde (5)

Australia:  (11) 14
Tries:  Gregan
Pens:  Giteau, Flatley (2)

The teams:

France:  Brusque, Rougerie, Marsh, Jauzion, Heymans, Michalak, Elissalde, Milloud, Servat, Marconnet, Thion, Pelous, Betsen, Magne, Harinordoquy.
Replacements:  Bruno, Mas, Pape, Bonnaire, Peyrelongue, Poitrenaud, Dominici.

Australia:  Latham, Rathbone, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri, Larkham, Gregan, Young, Paul, Baxter, Harrison, Vickerman, Smith, Waugh, Roe.
Replacements:  Cannon, Dunning, Chisholm, Lyons, Flatley, Rogers, Sailor.

Referee:  Chris White (RFU)

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