Australia faced a challenging defeat against France, concluding their European tour winless for the first time in 67 years. The match at the Stade de France ended with a score of 48-33, marking Australia’s fourth loss of this autumn series.
Historic Loss for the Wallabies
This defeat is significant as it brings the Wallabies’ total losses to ten within a single year. Under the leadership of coach Joe Schmidt, the team’s win percentage now dips below 40%. Schmidt will conclude his tenure following the Nations Championship in July.
Match Overview
- Date: Recent autumn series
- Location: Stade de France
- Score: France 48, Australia 33
- Australia’s losses this autumn: Four
- Total losses in 2023: Ten
The match started positively for Australia, with Matt Faessler scoring first. However, France quickly responded through Nicolas Depoortere, following a setup from Louis Bielle-Biarrey. After Angus Bell’s try briefly gave Australia a lead, the score leveled at 19-19 by halftime.
Second Half Dynamics
In the second half, Australia struggled to maintain pace with the French team. Although Max Jorgensen managed to equalize, France’s momentum shifted decisively. Julien Marchand and Bielle-Biarrey each scored, pushing France ahead.
- Key Players:
- Nicolas Depoortere
- Louis Bielle-Biarrey
- Julien Marchand
Despite Josh Nasser’s attempt to rally Australia with a try, France responded immediately with another score from Maxime Lamothe, sealing the match.
Player Highlights
Bielle-Biarrey’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he scored two tries and assisted another, totaling 20 Test tries in just 22 appearances since his debut in 2023. France’s victory also secured them a top seed for the World Cup draw.
In other matches, Italy concluded their autumn series with a 34-19 victory against Chile, marking their first encounter.
