Australia secured a hard-fought 28-23 victory over France in a Nations Championship rugby union international on Saturday, with a decisive try in the final minutes breaking the deadlock.
Match Overview
The Wallabies led 14-10 at halftime after a tense first half. France fought back in the second half, taking a 23-21 lead with 15 minutes remaining. However, Australia responded with a try from winger Andrew Kellaway in the 78th minute to reclaim the lead and ultimately the win.
Fly-half Noah Lolesato contributed 13 points through two conversions and three penalties, while fullback Tom Wright scored the opening try for Australia. For France, scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud scored a try and fly-half Louis Carbonel added 13 points with the boot.
Key Moments
Australia opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Wright crossed the line after a slick backline move. France responded with a try from Couilloud in the 25th minute, but Lolesato's penalty gave the Wallabies a 14-10 lead at the break.
In the second half, France took control with tries from wingers Damian Penaud and Matthis Lebel, but Australia's defense held firm. With the score at 23-21, Kellaway intercepted a pass and raced 40 meters to score the winning try under the posts.
Impact and Reaction
The victory keeps Australia's Nations Championship hopes alive, while France will rue missed opportunities. Wallabies captain Michael Hooper praised his team's resilience: "We knew it would be a tough contest, but the boys showed great character to come back and win."
France coach Fabien Galthié lamented his side's errors: "We made too many mistakes at crucial moments. We need to be more clinical if we want to beat top teams."
The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with temperatures reaching 28°C. Australia's next match is against New Zealand, while France face England.
