The Wallabies arrived in Paris trying to make a press release in opposition to the World Cup favourites.
They left ruing what may have been a well-known win as France broke the hearts of Dave Rennie’s males, claiming a 30-29 victory on the venue of subsequent yr’s World Cup Final.
The killer blow got here with 4 minutes remaining as Damian Penaud raced down the right-hand touchline and confirmed his elusiveness to get previous Tom Wright and Jock Campbell to attain.
Campbell, in his first Test begin after making his debut within the 16-15 win over Scotland every week earlier, didn’t conceal his disappointment.
“Pretty shattered if I’m honest. To lose in the fashion that we did, pretty shattered,” Campbell mentioned.
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Asked the place it went flawed for the Wallabies, the 27-year-old Reds fullback didn’t dodge accountability after being fended away when he ought to have tackled the flying winger decrease.
“Just the last tackle. Just missed a tackle at the end me and Tommy (Wright) and it comes down to that really,” he mentioned.
“I’ve got to cop that on the chin and move on.”
Former Wallabies star Drew Mitchell mentioned gallant defeats weren’t ok, with slim defeats a continuing theme below Rennie.
“Let’s not celebrate getting close, they should have won that game,” Mitchell mentioned in commentary.
“They should have lost last week.
“We see improvement in this Wallabies team but the same things are repeating themselves over and over. We should be celebrating a win here. It’s hard, we get ourselves into these positions and we find a way to lose a game.”
Mitchell isn’t flawed, the Wallabies have a 38.7 per cent profitable proportion below Rennie.
The Wallabies have been in numerous Tests below Rennie however have discovered methods of dropping. Per week in the past they might have misplaced had been it not for a missed penalty from Blair Kinghorn within the closing minute.
From failing to throw straight on the lineout in opposition to England to not kicking the ball out in opposition to the All Blacks, the Wallabies have let Tests slip via their fingers.
“It’s a game of inches,” Rennie mentioned.
“Four minutes left they put a bit of kick pressure on, Hodgey (Reece Hodge) shanked one at the middle of the field but even prior to that, Len Ikitau if he held his feet he’s straight through.
“We got away with a tight one last week and we finished second this time.”
Rennie’s males solely have themselves in charge, gifting away quite a few penalties (11) via poor self-discipline on the breakdown.
Their struggles on the breakdown, significantly the attacking ruck, got here every week after Scotland smashed Australia within the space.
For the second week too, the Wallabies struck calamity in the midst of the sphere.
Unlike final week the place Kinghorn toed forward for himself to attain shortly after half-time, this time Foley’s cross was toed forward and moments later France scored via their hooker Julien Marchand moments earlier than the primary break.
It was a traditional case of a Wallabies aspect lacking continuity and paying the worth for what Campbell earlier within the week described as a “clunky” assault.
Mitchell urged Rennie to choose and stick, with the Wallabies to play simply eight extra Tests earlier than subsequent yr’s World Cup opener.
“(Rugby Australia CEO Andy) Marinos said three wins would be a pass mark (for the tour), it’s a crucial game now for the Wallabies to get one against the Italians in Florence before going into another big clash against the Irish,” Mitchell mentioned.
“I don’t think you can play around too much, I don’t think you can tinker too much.
“I think you need to start giving players an opportunity to start to combine.
“Bernard Foley’s had a different halfback every time he’s called for the ball. They need to start getting some combinations.”
However, given the Wallabies have their tour defining match in opposition to world No.1 aspect Ireland in Dublin on November 20, Rennie will doubtless make adjustments subsequent week for his or her conflict in opposition to Italy subsequent week with Jake Gordon anticipated to start out.
No.8 Rob Valetini will doubtless earn a breather with Langi Gleeson in line for a begin whereas wingers Jordan Petaia and Mark Nawaqanitawase may even come into the choice body.
Despite the defeat in Paris, it was under no circumstances all doom and gloom.
The Wallabies’ ahead pack stood as much as the problem of the French for almost all of the Test, with Taniela Tupou having a robust return to the beginning aspect. While Valetini, apart from his horrible left-foot kick which handed possession again to France, confirmed his physicality.
French-based lock Will Skelton made his presence felt off the bench in his first Test in nearly a yr. The La Rochelle ahead, who was just lately nominated for European participant of the yr, thundered over the achieve line and threw a stunning inside ball to Tupou within the lead-up to the Wallabies’ second strive.
Halfback Nic White was sharp within the first-half earlier than the French forwards began to disrupt his ball from the bottom of the ruck identical to Scotland did to Tate McDermott every week earlier whereas Campbell scored a try to confirmed that he belongs in worldwide rugby.
Lalakai Foketi additionally completed off a surprising coast-to-coast strive however was pressured off halfway via the primary half with a shin harm, which Rennie described as “significant”.
Clermont-based centre Irae Simone may but be referred to as into the squad, with Hunter Paisami anticipated to return to the beginning aspect.
The Wallabies made a robust begin as Foley slotted the opening factors within the third minute.
Three minutes later and Thomas Ramos slotted again to again penalties to present France a 6-3 lead, earlier than Foley put the Wallabies again on even phrases.
France had been denied a attempt to flanker Charles Ollivion for a double motion.
Under extra strain, the Wallabies turned defence into assault as they scored an unimaginable coast-to-coast strive as Wright acquired on the surface of Penaud earlier than linking again up with Campbell who in flip discovered Foketi.
But the Wallabies’ good work was undone as Ramos nailed two extra penalties earlier than catastrophe on the stroke of half-time as Foley’s cross centre subject hit the deck and France pounced.
After Gael Fickou toed forward the Wallabies regathered the ball via Andrew Kellaway, however the French counter-rucked and moments later scored via hooker Julien Marchand to take a 19-13 lead at half-time.
Both sides traded penalties early within the second half earlier than Campbell completed off a stunning strive, as he carried two defenders over the road out extensive after an overlap was created. Foley transformed from out extensive to present the Wallabies a one-point lead.
Rennie turned to some contemporary legs within the closing 10 minutes, taking off key leaders Michael Hooper and Foley, as he injected Hodge and Pete Samu into the fray.
The Wallabies regarded like they might win when Hodge slotted a penalty within the seventy fifth minute to stretch the lead out to 29-25.
But poor defence noticed Penaud steal the win and see France declare their eleventh straight Test victory to proceed their march into subsequent yr’s World Cup.
“He’s (Penaud) one of the best wingers in the world and he’s finished off a number of tries like that,” Rennie mentioned.
“Given our time over again you’d hope to do a better job on that.
“I think we defended really well for a big chunk of the game and there was a handful of times where they had a bit of time and space and we were able to scramble and fight for each other and shut them down.
“So considering the amount of ball that had and to only get a couple of tries tonight highlights the fact that we defend them pretty well for big chunks.”