'Please don't give up on them': Joe Schmidt's plea to Wallabies fans after grim 67-year first in freezing Paris
Updated . First published
Joe Schmidt pleaded with anguished Wallabies to not "give up" on the team after Australia ended their season with a fourth straight loss on Sunday (AEDT).
The Wallabies played good rugby for much of the match and the scores were level at 19-19 at halftime against France in freezing Paris.
But the tourists couldn't maintain the rage for 80 minutes as France pulled away for an entertaining 48-33 triumph as a 15-Test season drew to a concerning close.
Re-watch Wallabies vs France with every Nations Series match streaming live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport
"We're disappointed we didn't finish with the victory that I know you would have all loved to see," Schmidt told Stan Sport.
"But the players have made a heck of an effort. There's 15 Tests in 22 weeks. With the amount of travel they've had, I just admire the way they have dusted themselves off and gone again.
"And it wasn't for lack of effort tonight. With a little bit more execution, they will get better, so please don't give up on them."
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The see-saw match completed the Wallabies' first winless tour of Europe in 67 years.
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 Rugby 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 (two), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (two), 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," France captain Gregory Alldritt said.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey of France scores his team's third try. Getty
"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.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey of France scores his team's third try. Getty
France missed routine tackles to allow Bell to touch down between the sticks and put Australia ahead again before the hosts shifted the ball sharply through the hands to create an overlap, freeing Ramos to glide over and level at 12-12.
France extended the lead in style as the ball was worked wide to Bielle-Biarrey and the winger exploded into space, chipping ahead and regathering before stepping inside the last defender to finish a brilliant solo try.
Australia levelled before the break after Maxime Lucu was sin-binned, Faessler crossing again from a maul.
Angus Bell roars. Stan
A Ramos penalty and Depoortere's second try after a quickly-taken penalty gave Les Bleus a 10-point margin but it was not enough for a team who had little focus in defence.
Jorgensen showed impressive pace down the left, kicking the ball ahead before winning the race to dive over in the corner and Edmed converted to narrow the gap to a single point.
The momentum swung yet again when Marchand touched down from a maul and Australia's Tom Hooper picked up a yellow card.
Max Jorgensen of Australia scores his team's fourth try. Getty
France tightened their grip when a short lineout move sent replacement Kalvin Gourgues slicing through the defence before releasing Bielle-Biarrey who finished in the corner to stretch the lead.
Nasser forced his way over again to bring Australia back to 41-33, but France had the last word with Lamothe's late try.
The French lost 32-17 to world champions South Africa and beat Fiji 34-21 in their other Autumn internationals.
Nicolas Depoortere of France scores his team's first try. Getty
Schmidt has three more Tests in charge - at home to Ireland, Italy and France in July - before handing the reins over to Les Kiss.
"I was supposed to finish earlier and it would have been easy to finish earlier because I knew how tough this tour was going to be," Schmidt said.
"But you don't walk away from a group of men who are working this hard and leave them asunder. We're just going to roll up our sleeves and we're not finished yet."
Harry Wilson of Australia looks on. Getty
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson cut a dejected figure.
"Quite a disappointing tour to be frank there," Wilson said.
"It was really disappointing to not get the results, but I know as a group we kept working hard, kept training well, we prepped well.
"I just feel disappointed that we probably let our group down with the results. If there's a lot of criticism back home, I've been trying not to look at that sort of stuff because it's quite crippling if you keep looking at that."
France 48 (Nicolas Depoortere 2, Louis Bielle-Biarrey 2, Thomas Ramos, Julien Marchand, Maxime Lamothe tries; Ramos 5 conversions, penalty) Australia 33 (Matt Faessler 2, Angus Bell, Max Jorgensen, Josh Nasser tries; Tane Edmed 4 conversions). HT: 19-19
