SYDNEY: Flyhalf Matt Giteau scored a try and kicked four conversions and two penalties as Australia overcame an error-strewn first half to beat France 34-13 in their first rugby Test yesterday.
The Wallabies scored 24 second-half points to secure the 21-point victory at Sydney’s former Olympic stadium, eclipsing Australia’s previous biggest home win over France, a 48-31 triumph in Brisbane in 1990. It was the second win for the Wallabies under former Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans. The teams play again next Saturday in Brisbane. Giteau scored all of his side’s points as Australia led 10-6 at halftime. The Wallabies controlled the territory but turned in a poor half of passing and catching, botching the majority of scoring opportunities with handling errors. Giteau also made a sloppy start with his goalkicking, missing a simple shot from 25 meters in the fifth minute. But he got the Wallabies on the scoreboard in the 19th minute when he booted a penalty goal from virtually the same spot of his earlier miss.
The French replied with a penalty goal to Dimitri Yachvili two minutes later when Wallabies backrowers were penalized for not rolling away after a tackle on French fullback Pepito Elhorga, who had to leave the field with a shoulder injury and will miss next week’s second Test.
In the 36th minute, fullback Cameron Shepherd split the French defense 50 meters out in a counter-attacking movement that resulted in Giteau shaking off a tackle from Sebastien Chabal and scoring, his conversion making it 10-3. Shepherd later failed to find touch from within his own 22 after the siren and the French were awarded a penalty 20 meters out, and Yachvili made the score 10-6.
Before a crowd of 48,899, Nathan Sharpe scored Australia’s second try in the 43rd minute, and Giteau converted for a 17-6 lead. Rocky Elsom added another Wallabies try four minutes later, and Giteau’s conversion put the home side up 24-6.
Australia captain Stirling Mortlock intercepted a pass back inside by Damien Traille, who was under pressure in his own half, to score under the posts in 60th minute.
Alexis Palisson scored France’s only try in the 66th minute, crossing next to the posts after rolling over the top of Mortlock to ground the ball.
“We had a huge amount of possession but it just seemed like we were a pass out, which is a little bit frustrating,” said Mortlock. “But I’m very happy with the effort.
“You never quite know what you’re going to get with the French, and that was on show tonight. Sometimes they put you under a lot of pressure and sometimes they let you play.”
Deans said he was pleased with Australia’s effort.
“We sustained our attack for longer,” Deans said. “We were a little bit inaccurate around our ball work and, hence, relieved a lot of pressure in the first half, and even the second half we had a few instances of the ‘dropsies’.
“But we showed a little bit more patience in the second half, built some pressure and were able to get in behind and then profit from that.”
France coach Marc Lievremont said his side spent too much time defending.
“There is not that much to say about this game, around the 60-minute mark the game was gone,” Lievremont said. “We know top rugby is a game made up of a lot of little things, and we spent a lot of time in our own half and we paid for it in the end.”
Australian winger Peter Hynes was named man of the match while center Ryan Cross and prop Ben Alexander earned their first test caps as second-half replacements.
-
