Sport

Hard-fought win for Australia

International Test/Australia 37 France 31: Australia warmed up for their Test against South Africa next Saturday with a hard…

Mon Jul 04 2005 - 01:00

International Test/Australia 37 France 31: Australia warmed up for their Test against South Africa next Saturday with a hard-fought victory over France in Brisbane on Saturday. However, Australia coach Eddie Jones knows his side must step up a gear if they are to have any hope against the Springboks. "I don't think we played well but it was still a reasonable performance," he said after the six-point-margin win.

Two second-half tries by replacement centre Morgan Turinui helped Australia survive a late scare from an enterprising French team. The Wallabies outscored France six tries to four and could have won by a much more comfortable margin but for poor goalkicking, centre Matt Giteau succeeding with just two of his eight attempts at goal.

French scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, in contrast, kept his brave side in the match with an unblemished record of four conversions and a penalty.

France's unpredictable backs launched waves of counter-attacks in the second half, with centres Yannick Jauzion and Benoit Baby a handful for the Australians.

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Giteau kicked off the scoring with an early penalty before winger Cedric Heymans pounced to intercept a pass by fullback Chris Latham to give France an early 7-3 lead. The Wallabies hit back when outhalf Stephen Larkham raced in from 55 metres. Latham then bumped Frederic Michalak off to score from the base of an attacking scrum just before half-time.

Australia led 15-7 at the break, though both sides had missed several try-scoring opportunities.

Baby was held up over the line soon after the break before Jauzion put free-running winger Julien Laharrague over for France to close the gap to 15-14.

However, second-half tries from Wendell Sailor, Turinui (two) and Jeremy Paul sealed the Wallabies' victory.

AUSTRALIA: Latham; Sailor, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Gregan; Young, Paul, Baxter, Chisholm, Sharpe, Elsom, Smith, Lyons. Tries: Larkham, Latham, Sailor, Turinui 2, Paul.Cons: Giteau, Rogers. Pens: Giteau.

FRANCE: Brusque; Laharrague, Jauzion, Baby, Heymans; Michalak, Elissalde; Milloud, Swarzewski, Avril, Lamboley, Pape, Martin, Magne, Bonnaire. Tries: Heymans, Laharrague, Traille, Candelon. Cons: Elissalde 4. Pens: Elissalde.