Matt Giteau scored all his team’s points as Australia defeated France 22-6 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney yesterday.
Giteau scored a try and kicked six goals in a brilliant solo display that was matched by Australia’s superb defense.
The Wallabies have conceded just two tries in four matches this season, including one against the Barbarians and two against Italy, but yesterday’s effort was by far their best.
PHOTO: AFP
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 after a long season in Europe, but were outplayed by an impressive Wallaby team who tackled everything that the French threw at them.
The Australians opened their account in the 18th minute with a smartly executed 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-center Berrick Barnes.
France almost scored when skipper Thierry Dusautoir charged down an attempted clearance from Giteau, but had to be content with a penalty after flanker George Smith tackled Damien Traille late.
The Wallabies stretched their lead to 10-3 at halftime when Giteau landed the first of his penalties in the 27th minute, then he kept the scoreboard ticking over by slotting 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.
■ALL BLACKS 27, ITALY 6
REUTERS, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
Joe Rokocoko scored his first Test try in almost two years as New Zealand bumbled and fumbled to a victory over Italy in chilly conditions at Lancaster Park yesterday.
Isaac Ross recorded his first Test try and set up replacement flanker George Whitelock’s try, on debut, after two storming runs in the same movement for the All Blacks.
Flyhalf Luke McAlister added three conversions and two penalties for the home side, who played the majority of the game on the back foot and were less than convincing just three weeks out from their first Tri-Nations match against Australia.
Italy fullback Luke McLean added a penalty in each half for the visitors, who seemed merely content to tackle, disrupt the ball and kick for territory in a match that failed to inspire the small crowd who braved below zero conditions.
The All Blacks spent the majority of the match attempting to play all of the rugby, but handling errors, running across field rather than going forward and poor kicking allowed the Italians to keep them pinned inside their own territory.
“The only positive thing we can say about it is that we didn’t get any more injuries,” All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said. “It was very disappointing. The execution was poor, decision making poor and we just weren’t effective across the park.”
It was the lowest score the All Blacks have posted against Italy.
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