France vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and final score as late Damian Penaud try snatches victory
The Wallabies led late after impressive tries from Lalakai Foketi and Jock Campbell, but Damian Penaud’s brilliance seized the win for the French at the death
Damian Penaud scored a late try to give France a hard-fought record 11th consecutive victory as they beat Australia 30-29 at the Stade de France in their autumn international on Saturday.
The Wallabies’ Lalakai Foketi scored a sensational try and Jock Campbell added another with Bernard Foley kicking the rest of the points for the visitors, who did a great job at keeping France‘s mercurial scrumhalf Antoine Dupont in check.
Fabien Galthie’s side however ground through the game and winger Penaud scored the winner to add to Julien Marchand’s try, while Thomas Ramos’s metronomic boot secured their other points.
France, who take on South Africa in Marseille next Saturday, improved on their record of consecutive victories that dated back to the 1930s.
Having not played together since the last Six Nations tournament as the squad who toured Japan in July was largely reshuffled, France lacked their usual bite but somehow pulled off a victory after a rough battle.
Australia, who had recalled experienced flyhalf Foley in August, defended stoutly and attacked when it mattered, only losing their way in the final five minutes.
Foley put the visitors ahead with an early penalty as Australia started strongly, only for Ramos to cancel out the advantage with a 30-metre penalty and then give Les Bleus the lead with a 48-metre kick.
After Foley’s second penalty, France touched down through Charles Ollivon, only for the try to be ruled out for a double movement. Minutes later, Australia effectively scored the first try at the end of a blistering counter attack, Foketi diving over after collecting Tom Wright’s pass inside the French 22.
France had a spell of domination and were rewarded with two Ramos penalties but for the first time in four years Les Bleus faced the prospect of being behind at halftime at the Stade de France.
However, Marchand scored a pivotal try in stoppage time from a strong ruck and Ramos added the extra points to give France a six-point lead at the interval with the score at 19-13.
Foley and Ramos traded penalties early in the second half, but Australia struck the first blow when Campbell went over after a fine collective move before Foley converted to give the Wallabies a one-point advantage and fresh momentum.
Foley kicked for three points again before Ramos also did so and, with five minutes left, Hodge added another penalty to leave France with a try to score for a win that looked elusive. But Penaud beat two tackles to touch down with four minutes left and gave his team another confidence boost a year before the World Cup on home soil.
Ireland 3-0 South Africa, 7 minutes
The gruelling passage appears to take its toll on both teams - Ireland rather go to sleep after failing to be rewarded for what they feel is a legitimate turnover, and are penalised for offside.
Damian Willemse lifts a cross-kick to no-one in particular, though the bounce catches out Mack Hansen, who just about manages to put down a leaping Cheslin Kolbe down safely.
Back for the penalty.
Ireland 3-0 South Africa, 6 minutes
Ireland’s maul defence is solid. To Plan B for South Africa, that hulking pack employed repeatedly around the corner. Pieter-Steph du Toit meets Stuart McCloskey, who drives the flanker back with a little assistance from Johnny Sexton.
Jaden Hendrikse’s service is sharp but South Africa are going backwards as they reach a 14th phase.
Ireland 3-0 South Africa, 4 minutes
South Africa’s restart skids into touch from the outstretched fingertips of Tadhg Beirne, granting the visitors their first attack.
Soon after, penalty advantage for the collapse of the maul. Damian Willemse looks to the right corner.
PENALTY! IRELAND 3-0 South Africa (Johnny Sexton penalty, 3 minutes)
A polite cheer from the crowd as Johnny Sexton performs his duties. Ireland are away.
Ireland 0-0 South Africa, 1 minute
A deep kick off up the centre from Johnny Sexton, with Ireland clad in navy blue with vibrant green accents, and South Africa in their familiar home green garb.
Bright start from Ireland - a box kick from Conor Murray is gathered by Garry Ringrose, and a penalty at the resultant ruck will give Johnny Sexton a chance to open his account.
Ready for kick-off
The crowd in Dublin looks up for this - the start of the autumn and the world champions in town.
Nika Amashukeli has the job of keeping a handle on things - the Georgian referee can call on the support of Stuart Terheege in the TMO booth.
Ireland’s centurion
Ahead of cap number 100, Conor Murray leads Ireland out - how does his selection from the start change the way Ireland might go about this?
Ireland vs South Africa
The lights go out in Dublin, the anticipation building at a packed Aviva Stadium. These two haven’t met for five years, remarkably - how things have changed since then.
Johnny Sexton takes a deep, calming breath in the tunnel, glancing across at Siya Kolisi.
Team News - South Africa
It’s a typically strong South African side preparing for their first meeting with Ireland since 2017. Jasper Wiese starts at number eight with Jacques Nienaber saying that he knows all he needs to about Duane Vermeulen, who is not part of the Springboks’ November squad, while Malcolm Marx starts at hooker ahead of Bongi Mbonambi.
Handre Pollard’s return to action at Leicester was brief, which means Damian Willemse continues at fly-half. Cheslin Kolbe is fit to return, and starts in a back-three fit to fly. It’s a six:two bench split, with Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux the brace of backs held in reserve.
South Africa XV: S Kitshoff, M Marx, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, L de Jager; PS du Toit, S Kolisi, J Wiese; J Hendrikse, D Willemse; M Mapimpi, D de Allende, J Kriel, K-L Arendse; C Kolbe.
Replacements: B Mbonambi, O Nche, V Koch, F Mostert, D Fourie, K Smith; F de Klerk, W le Roux.
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