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Power runner: Adam Ashley-Cooper
After being level at half time, Wallabies eventually cantered past France with a seven-try 59-16 victory in Paris on Saturday.
Les Bleus were booed off the field by their home crowd as a second-half meltdown saw them concede a whopping 46 points after the break.
Despite being annihilated at scrum time, Australia notched up a record victory over France, proving that attack truly is the best form of defence as Drew Mitchell scored a hat-trick in the space of a few minutes.
This must surely be a wake-up call for Marc Lièvremont whose side looked completely disjointed and lacked any sort of direction.
The hosts were completely outplayed in very department expect for the scrum, and even the Wallabies' disastrous set piece become largely irrelevant in the second half.
The constant chopping and changing of the French team has left them without any sort of cohesion. In front of 80 000 of their fans on Saturday, the XV de France was exposed by arguably the world's most electrifying attacking team.
Just as worrying for French fans must be the way their team simply capitulated once the Wallabies had a decent lead. This is not the first time it's happened - similar beatings were dished out by the All Blacks in Marseille last November and by the Springboks in Cape Town in June. The manner in which French heads dropped and tackles were missed in Paris was all too familiar.
As for Australia, despite the impressive scoreline this victory must be taken with a pinch of salt. Yes, they were fantastic on attack. Yes, they managed to win handsomely against one of the world's rugby powers, but there is simply no way they can expect to win the World Cup with that scrum.
France were able to hang on for 40 minutes almost entirely thanks to their scrum dominance which was not only worth a penalty try but also a bagful of penalties.
Australia took an early lead thanks to wonderfully executed move that saw Adam Ashley-Cooper bust through the midfield to score.
James O'Connor and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties until referee Bryce Lawrence was left with no choice but to hand France a penalty try - and send Ben Alexander to the sin bin - as the Aussie scrum repeatedly collapsed meaning the teams headed to the changing rooms at 13-all.
Parra gave France a 16-13 lead shortly after the break but it was one-way traffic for the rest of the game.
Tries from Benn Robinson and Will Genia in the 48th and 51st minutes put Australia in control, before Mitchell claimed a quickfire hat-trick and James O'Connor added a try of his own to complete a personal haul of 29 points.
Man of the match: A lot was made of the size and class of the French midfield but they were completely outshone by Adam Ashley-Cooper whose running lines were simply outstanding.
Moment of the match: There was an air of inevitability about Benn Robinson's try with half an hour left on the clock. As it turned out, it was the straw that broke the camel's back as France imploded.
The scorers:
For France:
Try: Penalty try
Cons: Parra
Pens: Parra 3
For Australia:
Tries: Ashley-Cooper, Robinson, Genia, Mitchell 3, O'Connor
Cons: O'Connor 6
Pens: O'Connor 4
Yellow card: Alexander (Australia - 30th min- repeated scum infringements)
France: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Damien Traille, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Sebastien Chabal, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Jerome Thion, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jerome Schuster, 18 Romain Millo-Chluski, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Fabrice Estebanez, 22 Marc Andreu.
Australia:15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements:16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Lachie Turner.
Venue: Stade de France.
Referee: Brice Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Comments
runnrugby says...
The scrums leading up to the yellow card was poor technique by Alexander. He kept binding to the frenchmans arm with a bent elbow which caused him to pull down his opposite and bring the front row down. It improved when Robinson came on
Posted 04:35 29th November 2010
quietbrit says...
Zambokke,
I was just looking at Nov (as my post said) and the only team that performed every weekend was NZ. The others had good and bad games, at no stage have I got at all excited by the NH teams performance against the south (who IMO deserve the 1,2,3 spots in the IRB rankings), indeed I noted after the Aus game that I wouldn't get excited until England were consistent on the road...
Consistent quality is key to winning a WC and with nearly a year to go there is time for a lot of things to change, hell there might even be a competitive NH team in the Semis...
Posted 02:13 29th November 2010
7nezking says...
@moutaye
wow cool you're going there, I'll be watching everything from here in France lol I'll just have to miss class for evening games in NZ (so mornings here).
I've been going around l'equipe.fr to see the fans reactions and can't wait to hear what Vincent Mosacto has to say about this game on rmc.......oh no but I have class lol.
Posted 20:59 28th November 2010
moutaye says...
@7nezking: I hope we can put it back together ahead of that as i am heading to NZ next year to support us!!!
That said, there's a high disaster potential with this guy and his staff. To me, either he gets fired either the technical director of the FFR gives him a call and basically does the line-up for him using the Toulouse and Clermont backs (not Brive and Bayone for Christ Sake!!!!).
If none of this happen then Tonga indeed never had such a good chance to reach the 1/4 final stage. I do mean it.
Posted 16:30 28th November 2010
Thebosston says...
My 22 for the world cup:
France: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo. (Assuming Fabien Barcella still isn't fit)
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Sylvain Marconnet, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Dimitri Yachvili , 21 Damien Traille, 22 Aurelien Rougerie .
Posted 15:28 28th November 2010
7nezking says...
@moutaye I hope France dont come back like wounded beasts as we tongans want to qualify for the1/4-finals for the first time :-) especially in NZ where it could be kind of a home tournament for us lol. Anything is possible when it comes to the World Cup but reallisticly our chances are slim.
Posted 12:06 28th November 2010
gauca says...
For a confused ML here is my suggestion for a decent Fra xv with forward power and an inventive back line who won't buckle like last night..... he needs all the help he can get.....
1barcella
2servat
3poux
4nallet
5picamoles
6dussatoir
7bonnaire
8harinordaquuy
9dupuuy
10trin-duc
11heymans
12fritz
13malzieu
14floch
15poitrenaud
Posted 11:44 28th November 2010
moutaye says...
All in all, Australia has been pretty impressive over the last few months. They certainly picked up from they were 2 or 3 years ago and i do rank them as second best in SH now.
Actually in these conditions, they are pretty much the only team which can offer a serious opposition to NZ.
France is demolished. I am very concerned about the psychological impact of a rampage like the one we saw yesterday. It is not going to be easy to take it from there.
The only real solution is to create an electric shock and firing him. Even if we are only a few months ahead of the RWC. We are on our way to a huge disaster in NZ next year with this guy. We better off accept and start from scratch all over again. But the french rugby union is an old mammoth and will never have the balls to make such a decision
Posted 11:07 28th November 2010
moutaye says...
Nice analysis Ausbrad.
And we can summarize all your points in one final one: Lievremont.
He's definitely the one to blame. The french rugby union has been way too kind with and patient with him now which i actually find very strange...Galthie should have been picked up in the first place as head coach three years ago. He has more experience as a coach exposed to the highest level and great record.
My questions to "Monsieur" Lievremont:
- How can you not pick the Toulouse back line when they currently outperform anybody in the Top 14 and in Europe? Medard, Fritz, Clerc, Heymans, Poitrenaud...These guys have been playing together over the last 6-7 years and developped automated ways to play together
- Why on earth are you not picking up Harinordoquy? What kind of a coach doesn't think he need a player short listed for the IRB player of the year award against Australia?
- Why deos Chabal start every game?
- What's the story with Ouedraogo? Can I suggest that you review in loop mode the last hit of Cooper against him? This flanker has no power, no pace, no nothing and should stick to the Top 14...
- Why are you picking up unknown average players like Andreu, Huguet, Palisson, Porical against a side the scale of Australia? These guys are good rugby players but have nothing to do in the national side?
- Finally, What are you doing here ???? Why don't you just go and accept the reality that this is too big a job for you? Go back and train Dax Pro D2. Tell Noves or Galthie to step up.
Posted 10:58 28th November 2010
BDAUSSIE says...
This time last year, Australia had a very solid scrum but i think that all the chopping and changing this year due to injuries has hurt us. There is nothing wrong with our front rowers. When they scrummage correctly, they can be competitive. The issue for us right now is simply an issue of weight. Last night the french scrum was around 15 to 20 kg heavier than us. That was the same against italy and wales. Giving up that much weight is going to make things tough against teams that are technically very good. We didn't have that issue last year because Palu gives us an extra 10 kgs at the back of the scrum and horwill is 5 kgs heavier than his replacements. With those guys coming back next year I think the scrum is going to be solid come WC.
Posted 10:25 28th November 2010
BDAUSSIE says...
Firstly, yes France dominated in the scrum, but does it really matter?! It shouldn't surprise anyone that France, a team with arguably the best scrum in the world, was able to pressure the Australian scrum, which is at best average. That is the nature of rugby. You play to your strengths and try to expose the oppositions' weakness. The Northern Hemisphere critics can go on and on about the wallabies scrum as much as they want but at the end of the day it hasn't really mattered much at all Wales, Italy and France, had nothing going for them but a strong scrum!!!!!That should be what the northern fans should be realising. Seriously where has their scrummaging got them this month?!?!
The wallabies have pretty much travelled north and said "even if we scrum terribly against the best scrummaging teams in the world, we've stil got enough class to win comfortably".
The only match they did lose against England, in which they played terribly they actually scrummaged quite well.
The Wallabies' scrum will never be the attacking weapon that it is for countries like france and Italy. But our props are more mobile around the park and suit our style of play better. Remember there were 3 tries to the aussie front row in the last 4 games. If I'm not mistaken that is more tries scored than all of the front rows of the six nations have managed in the last month (even if you count the penalty try by france)!!!!
Posted 10:18 28th November 2010
7nezking says...
I agree with all the critics on Lievremont. It probably shows that he doesn't trust his team that much as he doesn't want to miss the next big thing in french rugby. Deans is probably the complete opposite of Lievremont as he has stuck with his young players accumulating defeats against SA and NZ but he stuck with them. It clearly shows that he's the man with the plan.
The scrum's a total mess, and you can beat NH teams with that because of their lack of plays from their backs, but SA and NZ won't forgive you for that.
Go aussies
Posted 09:00 28th November 2010
ericmarseille says...
I've resisted registrating for years but I simply need to vent off my shame and frustration.
Everybody, every connoisseur of the game new it had "defeat" written all over it..I laughed long and loud when my brother told me he believed France would win...Typical French chauvinism...French supporters wear blinders.
Now I was wrong...It had "disaster" written all over it...How come we, the French, are the only ones to be embarrassed that way by our national side?
I feel real bad today...
Now, Li?emont said after the match he "didn't understand" what happened...
Ok, here are some clues M. "I don't understand" :
Seven French forwards not able to push three wallabies over five meters to score.
Props that tend to be attracted by mother earth like some magnetic force (I mean in play too!).
Halves who are probably still thinking on what decision to take on their first play of the match.
Centers heavy, still, amorphous, and not even good tacklers for that!
Wingers who fly away when Wallabies sneeze (and it was cold yesterday, they probably sneezed a lot!).
A full back who runs slower than my late grandmother can walk.
Now, only Chabal, Servat, Pierre and a tired Dusautoir tried..The rest...
Li?emont wanted to be lightened, he is now :
Whom to keep absolutely for RWC 2011 : Servat, Nallet, Chabal, Picamoles, Harinordoquy, Dusautoir
Whom to DUMP absolutely for RWC 2011 : Traille, Rougerie (this was the last straw!), Ouedraogo, Thion, Andreu, Porical, Huget, Guirado (awful)
Whom I'd prefer not to see if possible : Parra, Jauzion, Pierre, Domingo
Whom to (re)consider : David, Barcella, Trinh-Duc, Skrela (injuries), Jacquet, Dupuy, m?rd, Clerc, maybe even Heymans
Whew sorry for such an uninteresting post but I feel better now...
Posted 07:45 28th November 2010
hossman says...
Good second 40 minutes to finish 2010 - but lets face it, my under 11 side could beat that French side. The French showed no heart, no pride and generally no idea !! Yes there scrum was ok - but one pass from the ruck and they were lost. What does 2010 tell us of the Wallabies - the year has finished with more questions than answers.
1. So Gitteau wants out - well goodbye and good riddance the last 3 years has seen him picked on on reputation alone and we are better off without him. Go chase the money in Europe - we are better with Barnes at 12 (who was a standout tonite) anyhow.
2. Quade Cooper - i just dont know !! He has been DREADFULL on this tour (Hong Kong included) he has over played EVERY hand, kicked poorly and generally looked lost and as for defence, my 86 y.o grandmother would either step him or push past him - and she has a dodgy hip....
3. What has happened to our scrum ?? Under Michael Foley we were at least competitive - but now under Noriego we are a complete joke !! Imagine how good we COULD be if we at least got parity at scrumtime and as a result we are always up against 16 players - 15 opposition and a referee (any referee) looking to penalise us (not always correctly - but the perception is ours to correct).
4. At least back 3 & AAC look set and all look comfortable knowing each others plays.
5. Genia looks goood & Burgess has grown as his backup (certainly his pass has improved)
6. With Palu, Vickerman & Horwill waiting in the wings our back row stocks are great. Pocock is simply brilliant and Elsom is growing as a skipper and Mc Callum has been a revelation - but the scrum, that damed scrum............
Nine wins from 15 is a pass mark, but only just. At times we were sublime, at other times heartless & terrible (Twickenham). The only question i can answer from 2010 is that the AB's are still a mile in front - and daylight is second.
Posted 04:52 28th November 2010
Ausbrad says...
France's weaknesses / problems:
1. Forget Ouedraogo, I've never seen him have a good game and I don't think he's big enough - Harinordoquy should be the undisputed first choice 7
2. Laporte had the right idea, bring Chabal off the bench for the last 20 minutes - don't start him, he's so much better against tired defenders
3. Damien Traille has a massive boot (I thought that France would put that to good use?) - Not a single massive kick from him last night, if he's not going to kick don't pick him at 10. Though I wouldn't pick the stagefright prone Skrela either - As unreliable as Michalak is, he has a great record against southern hemisphere teams warranting his inclusion
4. Rougerie is a winger not a centre, France's best centre combination is probably Jauzion and Fritz, maybe Traille or Baby too
5. The back 3 looked very inexperienced and a little shy, they need to show a little rhythm in consistency and try to pick players who are known and experienced more often than not; Heymans, Clerc, Rougerie and Poitrenaud
6. Guirado's inexperience showed, they should stick to Servat and Szarzewski
7. Australia's line out ball seemed uncontested, Thion didn't contest, Nallet is good, but Harinordoquy and Bonnaire are great in the line outs - You can't have Traille at 10 with no line out.
7. There are so many great players who seem to be either be injured, have retired or who have simply dropped of the radar; Nyanga, Laharrague, Vermuelen, Beauxis, Clerc, Medard, Picamoles, Bastareaud, Michalak etc.
Possibly France's biggest problem, the idea that the same team that will beat Northern hemisphere teams will beat those from the south, they need to acknowledge the fact that they can play expansively against teams from the south and consequently pick players better suited to that style e.g. Michalak, Heymans, Harinordoquy, Chabal and other entertainers
Posted 03:47 28th November 2010
rodofle says...
The french coach is a total clown. He tried 81 players in 3 years, he never fixed a team, the management is a total failure. He doesn't pick the best players at their positions. But where the hell does this clown come from??? French rugby is a joke with Lievremont.
Posted 01:49 28th November 2010
trappa says...
Finally...the wobblie pigs ditched their feeble attempts at endless pick-n-drives and went to their strength... the backs. If only they had a front row and captain. Elsom is fast becoming my least liked player.
Posted 00:32 28th November 2010
runnrugby says...
I liked how the game was refereed by Brice Lawrence. He allowed the game to flow which made it enjoyable to watch. He played good advantage something that Alan Lewis failed to do in the Welsh game which was really frustrating because of all the stoppages. It allowed both sides to use the ball more. Australia used it to its fullest and looked great with it. France on the other hand looked confused on how to use it and couldnt break the wallabies defense. One call I thought was harsh was when he gave a yellow card and penalty try at the same time.
Posted 00:18 28th November 2010
gauca says...
Well done Aus, that was painful to watch but a master class none the less.
Fra aweful, Fra are now reapng the rewards for ML horrendeously extensive slash and burn policy with the Fra squad, I believe he has now used around 100 different players over the last 3yrs (no exageration) if not more, you could list at least a dozen superior players to the ones playing in the starting xv that were not injured and should feature regularly in the side but don't. No Dupuuy, Malzieu, Medard, Picamoles, Skrela, Floch to name just a few.
hayj05 you are totally correct and this isnt the first time he's made this mistake, Eng thumped fra too when he tried this a couple of years back.
I can only hope this is the greatest rope a dope stratergy in history being masterminded by ML, whereby we continually get hammered by the SH only to turn up next year and sweep to victory in WC as other sides will start to become complacent against us. I'm clutching at straws here ofcourse but I used to think PDV was the worst national coach in the business but ML is slowly but surely claiming his title, at least PDV has a plan you can comprehend.
Posted 23:31 27th November 2010
zambokke says...
QuietBrit, you say that the ABs only perform consistently! Yes they won a Grand Slam again and well done to them, The Springboks did OK considering that they had a weakened side and a questionable coach, but your comments have just been made after the Aussies destroyed France. How does the record read of Tri- Nation versus 6N? (France have no excuses - everyone keeps saying that it depends on which team turn up???!! What??). Australia had one bad game. SA played a weakened side against Scotland in a a deluge (with some wierd reffing and lost by a whisker) - take those two losses aside and measure 6N versus 3N and tell me how you truly feel. Remember, that the touring sides were at the end of the 3N and travelled to your winter to play on your turf. When you travel south next year, will you really feel that comfortable? Sometimes it's best for a Brit to remain Quiet. You should look at All of the results more closely - write them all down. How well did Ireland and Wales do? How well did England, France and Scotland really do? I think that everyone in Europe are delusional at the moment!!
Posted 23:21 27th November 2010