Australia overcame a scrappy opening to beat a second-string, but committed, French team four tries to one in a 34-13 victory in the first of two internationals at the Sydney Olympic Stadium yesterday.
The Wallabies stepped it up after a mistake-ridden first half to have the game wrapped up with a 27-6 lead just 11 minutes after the interval.
It was New Zealander Robbie Deans’ second straight win as Australia’s first foreign coach, after his team downed Ireland 18-12 in Melbourne a fortnight ago.
Australia broke through in the second period, scoring three tries from Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom and Stirling Mortlock, with fly-half Matt Giteau finishing with 19 points from a first-half try, four conversions and two penalties.
The Wallabies defense was outstanding, holding their try-line under concerted pressure twice and only conceding a score to debutant winger Alexis Palisson near the end.
France left behind most of their best players for the domestic championship play-offs. Biarritz center Damien Traille was the sole survivor from the team that lost 14-9 to England in the World Cup semi-final in Paris last October.
It was a ragged first half with both sides guilty of handling errors, before Giteau and Dimitri Yachvili exchanged penalty goals in the opening 22 minutes.
Australia broke through four minutes before the break when fullback Cameron Shepherd countered off a quick throw-in, linking with Mortlock and replacement Adam Ashley-Cooper to push deep inside French territory.
Giteau was then able to skirt around lock Sebastien Chabal to score the opening try.
Shepherd, however, paid for not finding touch with his clearing kick, giving the French the opportunity for Yachvili’s second penalty after the halftime siren to trail by four points.
The French lost full-back Pepito Elhorga with a right shoulder injury off a fierce combined tackle from Wycliffe Palu and Elsom midway through the half, with David Janin the replacement.
Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri also succumbed to a knee injury and made way for Adam Ashley-Cooper, while Palu (shoulder) was replaced by Phil Waugh at halftime.
The Australians scored quickly after halftime when lock Sharpe plunged over from a ruck right on the French line and Giteau’s conversion pushed the home side out to a 17-6 advantage.
Flanker Elsom surged over for a try off a clever Giteau switch as Australia took command eight minutes after the break.
The French launched a series of multi phase plays, trying to barge their way over the Australian try-line midway through the second half, but the Wallabies defense held firm despite several minutes of heavy pressure.
Mortlock scored an intercept try off Traille’s pass in the 62nd minute, before Brive winger Palisson scored a consolation try on his Test debut 14 minutes from time.
France, who have not won in Australia since their 28-19 victory in Sydney in 1990 four tours ago, get another crack at the Wallabies in Brisbane next Saturday.
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