Both France and Australia were looking to bounce back in Aix-en-Provence, with both sides coming into the game on the back of defeats last weekend.
France were beaten 28–14 by New Zealand, while Australia were particularly keen to respond after their 48–15 loss to England – despite leading the world champions 10–5 at half-time.
What followed was a remarkable contest, with France pulling off a remarkable 29-27 comeback win after a first-half ill-discipline gave the Wallaroos a 19-12 half-time lead.
Australia played with far more attacking fluidity than they showed against England and looked capable of securing a much-needed win, but France did not let the game slip away.
Despite three early yellows and a red card, the hosts showed remarkable resilience, gradually clawing their way back before taking a late lead.
Australia will be left to rue missed opportunities, but France deserve huge credit for the character they showed to overturn such a difficult position to secure victory by just two points.
Here’s what’s being said in the game…
Australia batted first – and what a moment
The Wallaroos ran the ball into the French 22 and, after a strong punt, it was their whore who got the final touchdown. Brittany Merlo scored her second Test in just her second appearance for Australia, and what a time to do it.
The conversion followed and Australia got off to the perfect start: France 0-7 Australia, with the hosts also down to 14 men after a yellow card in the first 15 minutes.
Tickets cost France early
France’s discipline was the defining story of the first 20 minutes. After accumulating three yellow cards, the French side suffered a further setback due to a permanent red card.
Complicating matters, the first of those yellow cards was subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
The result was a remarkable situation for France so early in the competition. Their repeated fouls not only handed Australia territory and attacking opportunities, but left France with just 11 men on the field at one stage.
At 7-0 France faced the significant challenge of trying to stay competitive while trying to regain control of a game dominated by their disciplinary problems.
In just under half an hour, Australia scored three tries to take a 19-0 lead. The Wallaroos also looked worthy of their lead.
Australia looked comfortable in attack
Australia looked much more fluid in attack, moving the ball with more confidence and purpose. There was a noticeable difference in the way they moved the ball and created pressure compared to last week’s performance against England.
They seemed more comfortable playing wide, combining their forwards and full-backs, and taking advantage of opportunities as they arose, rather than relying solely on individual runs.
That offensive flow was helped by the pressure they were putting on France. The Wallaroos were getting quick ball and making the most of the space created by France’s defensive disruption, especially when the hosts repeatedly lost players to the sin bin.
It allowed Australia to play on the front foot and, most importantly, with confidence. It was a fantastic game to watch.
Two key French tries
France managed to hit the gear before the break, with Anaïs Grando finishing off a clever piece of individual skill from Pauline Bourdon-Sansus.
The French captain spotted space behind the Australian defense and produced a perfectly timed chip, following it up to keep the pressure on before Grando managed to collect himself and finish.
It was the attacking spark France were looking for after such a difficult opening spell. Despite disciplinary problems and being reduced to 12 men at one point, France managed to score again, reducing Australia’s lead to just seven points.
What looked like a potentially one-sided contest earlier in the half suddenly became a much more competitive game, with France going into half-time having regained momentum and belief.
Reversal complete
France eventually produced a remarkable turnaround, Mélissande Llorens slotting home with five minutes remaining to put the hosts ahead.
After battling a stunning disciplinary crisis in the first half, France battled their way back into the contest and suddenly found themselves on the brink of an incredible victory.
What made the return even more significant were the circumstances they had to overcome. Australia looked in control for large periods of the game, but France showed tremendous resilience to keep up the pressure and gradually turn the momentum in their favour.
The final whistle confirmed a 29-27 win for France – a remarkable comeback from a 19-0 down and heavily depleted team.
There will undoubtedly be frustration for Australia to allow such a commanding position to slip away. But for France, this ended up being a remarkable display of resilience and determination. From disciplinary chaos to a two-point win, this was a game that had absolutely everything.
