France beat Australia 48-33 to complete winless tour for Wallabies

PARIS :France beat Australia 48-33 in a see-saw match to end the Wallabies' first winless tour of Europe in 67 years, spoiling Joe Schmidt’s farewell test as both teams closed their Autumn series at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Les Bleus, whose November campaign produced mixed results, alternated moments of attacking flair and periods of costly indiscipline, repeatedly allowing Australia back into a match that fluctuated throughout.

The visitors, who will host the 2027 World Cup with the draw set for December 3, stayed in the fight but faded in the final 20 minutes.

France’s brilliance in broken play yielded tries for Nicolas Depoortere (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), Julien Marchand and Maxime Lamothe, with Thomas Ramos adding five conversions and a penalty to his own try.

Australia, who also lost to England, Italy and Ireland, capitalised whenever French discipline slipped, hitting back through Matthew Faessler (2), Angus Bell, Max Jorgensen and Josh Nasser, while Tane Edmed kept the scoreboard moving with four conversions.

"We're happy to finish with a big win today," said France captain Gregory Alldritt.

"In defence we need to work a bit, be a bit cleaner as well, less penalties against us. A few steps to work on."

The Wallabies scored on the first possession of the game, working through the phases before Faessler bundled over.

France hit back when Bielle-Biarrey ghosted past two defenders and found Depoortere on the inside for the hosts’ first try.

France missed routine tackles to allow Bell to touch down between the sticks and put Australia ahead again before the hosts punched moved upfield and shifted the ball sharply through the hands to create an overlap, freeing Ramos to glide over and level at 12-12.

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