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.
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
Doesn’t that whet the appetite for the pool stage meeting between these two at the World Cup next year? The Stade de France, 23 September - a tasty potential Pool B decider.
Plenty more to come before then, of course. The hosts still have Fiji and Australia to come this autumn, while South Africa’s tour does not get any easier - they travel to Marseille for a meeting with France next Saturday.
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
Ireland debutant Jimmy O’Brien, who was excellent after coming off the bench in the first half, has a quick chat with Amazon Prime.
“It was great to be involved in that. I only found out on Thursday afternoon. The lads helped me out a lot - I wasn’t expecting to come on at 13, I haven’t played there for a while!
“There is such a good vibe in the team. Everyone gets on and everyone is trying to play the same way. It is pretty seamless to move up and play in that team.”
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
A match of predictable ferocity and fight, a proper, proper arm-wrestle - with Ireland earning another significant tick on their build towards the World Cup. The world champions came to Dublin and gave Andy Farrell’s side plenty, but the hosts held out for a tenth successive home win.
FULL TIME! IRELAND 19-16 SOUTH AFRICA
Ireland 19-16 South Africa, 79 minutes
The lineout works - just. Ireland have a minute to see out. This ball won’t travel far.
Ireland 19-16 South Africa, 78 minutes
Penalty to Ireland! Just as South Africa look to have won the ball back near halfway, the blast of Nika Amashukeli’s whistle helps the host, the Springboks’ pinged and yet more time ticking by.
TRY! Ireland 19-16 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse try, 77 minutes)
A brilliant score to give South Africa hope!
It looks as if Ireland have ended the momentum of the Springboks’ movement as Robert Baloucoune detonates Willie le Roux’s chest. But Le Roux keeps the ball alive, popping up from the floor for Eben Etzebeth.
Etzebeth then produces a moment of deft handling, belying that Brobdingnagian frame. He fends off one, draws two more and sends up the periscope, reaching up to drop the ball back over the garden fence for the little Kurt-Lee Arendse to scoot over.
Another missed conversion - three points in it, three minutes left.
Ireland 19-11 South Africa, 75 minutes
That’s about Damian Willemse’s best moment of the game, leading the chase at the restart and exploiting a clutch of Irish catchers slow to set. A knock on in the tackle from the hosts gives South Africa an attacking scrum.
PENALTY! IRELAND 19-11 South Africa (Johnny Sexton penalty, 73 minutes)
An anxious intake of breath from Sexton, and the crowd.
Time for the exhale - it’s over! The lead swells to eight...
Ireland 16-11 South Africa, 72 minutes
But South Africa never fully escape, and Ireland earn a penalty as they explore the left edge.
It’s wide, out near the touchline - Johnny Sexton might usually go for the corner, but at this juncture, with the chance to extend the lead to eight, on comes the kicking tee.
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