France beat Australia in second rugby union Test to level series – as it happened | Sport

“We lost the battle of body height,” Rennie concedes, in an answer full of diplomatic code that, translated, suggests he thought his side was monstered at the breakdown.

A massive challenge for both sides now to back up in just four days with the final Test of the series on Saturday.

Dave Rennie is quick to point out the breakdown turnover as Australia’s weakness, as well as an inability to play territory and make smart decisions at certain times.

It will be fascinating to see how this result will be dissected. Australia played well. They were strong for 60-minutes in set-pieces, bold in possession, ran at every opportunity, played on the front foot; but the precision isn’t there yet in the backs, and the errors, especially at the breakdown, proved very costly. Marika Koroibete was awesome, Taniela Tupou powerful, and Jake Gordon bright. There was no shortage of things to feel optimistic about, yet they suffered a home defeat to a mostly second-string France, a week after trailing the same French for almost 80-minutes in Brisbane.

“We’ll go back and review what we need to,” says Michael Hooper. He was pleased with the amount of phase-play the Wallabies strung together, but for the second time in a week Australia were undone by untimely errors.

France captain Anthony Jelonch said something resembling this, via a translator: “We managed to do what we didn’t do last Wednesday. I’m really proud.” It was a super long answer that the poor translator had a nightmare of a job interpreting.

A much more entertaining contest than in Brisbane, but with an equally thrilling climax, this time falling the way of the visitors. Heartbreak followed by delight.

A first France win against the Wallabies, in Australia, since 1990.

No mistake this time. The ball is fired back to a wide open blue jersey and the ball is belted into the stands. FRANCE WIN!

80 mins: Australia 26-28 France – Australia mount their final attack. They start in midfield 40m out but carve to the left, recycling play repeatedly, brave enough to use runners on both shoulders… but with 30 seconds on the clock France haul down Salakaia-Loto, secure the turnover, and earn the penalty.

79 mins: Australia 26-28 France – Can France close it out this time?

Mon dieu! France are back ahead!

77 mins: Australia 26-25 France – Australia earn a scrum from the restart – but WOW! France make an almighty shove. HUGE! They earn a scrum penalty with a massive heave that sends the Wallabies’ pack wheeling backwards until they’re splintered. Gee whizz, that was incredible.

40m out, 15m infield for Lolesio. He’s five from five so far tonight. Make that six from six! Australia up by one!

Just like in game one, France lead for an eternity but look set to cough up victory at the death. Sacré bleu!

74 mins: Australia 23-25 France – The Wallabies are determined to run their way to victory. The reserve forwards pound the middle, the backs are invited to snipe on the right, Banks and Naisarani to the fore, until Valetini induces an offside 40m out. It’s kickable, but no gimme for Lolesio.

73 mins: Australia 23-25 France – It’s all gone a bit Pete Tong on the French bench with a replacement SNAFU. There’s a dislocated shoulder somewhere and a scramble for a fit warm body. When play resumes Koroibete is back hurling himself at the blue wall.

The high kick to halfway is again regathered by Australia and run straight back into contact. Banks makes a break, he has Kellaway in support, who has Hooper in support, and the Wallabies are over! The move began with superb vision from Banks, picking his spot like an NFL running back weaving through the tiniest gap, but the finish was all about Hooper’s determination to keep up with play. He is one hell of a determined little bugger.

Lolesio kicks another brilliant conversion, and we have another nail-biting finish.

70 mins: Australia 16-25 France – Poor lineout from the Wallabies and play is suddenly on halfway instead of deep in France’s half. Naisarani doesn’t mind where the play is, he bustles through contact – but there’s no support and the diligent French defence executes the turnover.

69 mins: Australia 16-25 France – Safe defensive lineout from France and after a couple of nervy phases Couilloud kicks clear.

68 mins: Australia 16-25 France – Excellent lineout and rolling maul for the Wallabies… until it splinters – and the French hold tight and push the ball carrier Lonergan into touch. Huge win for Les Bleus!

68 mins: Australia 16-25 France – Subs aplenty before the scrum, and while it’s all happening the referee explains to the captains that it actually should be a penalty, not a scrum, as there was an offside called by a touch judge that wasn’t relayed because of a technical malfunction. Australia kick to the right corner.

67 mins: Australia 16-25 France – France secure high-pressure lineout ball and resist a powerful Australian counter-maul before kicking clear. From their own lineout the Wallabies get back into their running, finding some sharp combinations with second and third runners hitting the line hard as play drifts from right to left. France are disciplined in defence and the ball is slower and slower to be recycled. Superb defence… until on phase 12-ish Australia are awarded a scrum, 30m out.

65 mins: Australia 16-25 France – Good restart from the Wallabies and they get to work with their running game, but France defend stoutly with minimal bodies committed to the breakdown so Toomua kicks to the right corner to buy territory with momentum absence.

Jaminet, Jamin-yey! The French fullback cannot miss.

60 mins: Australia 16-22 France – After a stellar night at set-pieces the Wallabies fluff their lines and Woki steals the lineout. He then executes a thrilling counterattack own the blindside, the left, that takes them 80m downfield. On the 22 the fifth phase earns a penalty advantage and the French forwards are all over their golden rivals. A quick interplay with Couilloud steals another 10m or so and with the line in sight another penalty advantage is called for offside.

59 mins: Australia 16-22 France – Powerful scrum shunt for Australia earns a penalty. The kick from Banks sets up a 7m lineout throw.

57 mins: Australia 16-22 France – France slow the game down from the restart, box kick, and look to have induced Banks into a knock-on, but the scrum goes Australia’s way.

As the substitutes begin to roll on, Jaminet continues his flawless night with the boot.

56 mins: Australia 16-19 France – France tap and go from the penalty and immediately earn another advantage under the posts. But they keep driving. Picking and rolling from the massed breakdowns. Taofifenua spins out of contact under the posts, reaches out, and crosses! But it’s an unconvincing grounding, and the onfield call is no try. So so so close, but no cigar. Back to the gimme penalty, and the Wallabies warned for three successive offsides in the attack.

54 mins: Australia 16-19 France – France are happy to kick long from the restart but Koroibete is having none of it, smashing back at pace and bullying his way over the gainline. He is brutal! Australia can’t make progress though and the attack fizzles out on the left where Gordon is forced to box kick.

Oh boy, France hurl everything at the kick return! They explode into life with a Jaminet gather and burst through the middle, supported by a series of quick phases with support runners to take them to the brink of the line. With bodies massed an advantage is called but the French don’t give up, picking and driving, man after man, but the gold defensive line is resolute and they force the visitors to accept the penalty.

Never in doubt. As they have for almost the entirety of the series so far, France lead.

50 mins: Australia 16-16 France – Scrum to France 35m out in midfield. And it earns a penalty as the Australian front row collapses.

49 mins: Australia 16-16 France – France are less ambitious in possession and after securing safe ball in defensive territory they kick long. It’s a smart play as Wright loses possession early into a running counter. Another one of those exasperating errors that continue to undermine this team’s progress.

48 mins: Australia 16-16 France – A brief kicking exchange precedes another long phase of Australian possession. A couple of midfield drives set up a couple of backline phases down the right. France’s defence is solid and Gordon eventually accepts the box kick.

Simple three points for Australia’s fly-half, and scores are tied.

45 mins: Australia 13-16 France – Australia’s set-piece is in fine order tonight and a lineout on halfway soon becomes a flowing crisp attack to the right wing until space runs out. France’s lineout is stolen though and the gold jerseys flood forward 20m out. Paisani, Hooper, Koroibete all burrow to push the attacking breakdowns within 10m. There’s a penalty advantage called but the ball keeps being recycled. France are ragged but clinging on as Gordon almost finds a gap – and play comes back for the penalty.

In worrying news Koroibete is in pain, holding his left wrist, which is already heavily taped.

42 mins: Australia 13-16 France – The Wallabies continue their running game, keeping the ball in hand from the restart, 10m from their own line, but after gaining 30m there’s a spillage and France mount a forward-heavy drive that takes them deep into the 22. Drive after drive crosses the gain line, but by the time Gros reaches the 5m marker there’s a breakdown penalty with the French not releasing under pressure from Hooper.

For the Wallabies, Marika Koroibete was blistering, and on another day could have had a hat-trick of first-half tries. Special mention also has to go to Taniela Tupou for his outrageous play from the back of the ruck, spinning a bullet cutout pass to set-up Australia’s try.

There are still too many errors – especially at the attacking breakdown – and combinations in the backline continue to look ropey. However, there is a clear strategy and character emerging, and the set-pieces have been crisp. It hasn’t all clicked yet under Dave Rennie, but it’s clear to see the work in progress.

An entertaining half of rugby that deservedly ends with the game in the balance. France, as they did in game one, continued to profit from Australian errors, but the Wallabies profited from their willingness to run and take the game on. Credit must go to Michael Hooper for his decision to go for the try late in the half when a penalty was on offer. A bold call that paid dividends.

It’s another superb lineout and the maul looks destined for a try. Then the ball is sent infield and there’s an overlap – but Wright accepts contact instead of keeping the move alive! France regroup, there’s slow ball on the line and the sting is out of the drive but Tupou – wow! At the breakdown the big prop plays scrum-half and throws a cutout pass to his left when Gordon is on the whitewash, collects the incredible pass, and dives over. Finally, the Wallabies can celebrate a try.

Lolesio kicks a teasing left-to-right fade from the touchline to add a superb conversion.

37 mins: Australia 6-16 France – Deary me, absolute shambles of a kick-off restart from France. Woki steps on Bandy’s foot while they both had eyes on the high kick. It gifts Australia a lineout 10m out, which soon becomes a massed drive to the line. After four tight phases the ball goes to the backs infield and there’s a half-break until Toomua is hauled down and play is called back for a penalty. Australia ignore the three points and kick to the corner.