France dazzles with 8 tries to send Wallabies home from winless tour of Europe

PARIS (AP) – France produced its best attacking performance this year to outscore Australia 48-33 at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The defense allowed five tries and the Wallabies were in the match until the 72nd minute.

But the attack sparkled with eight tries, some of them breathtaking, to make it three straight wins over Australia for the first time in 49 years.

Nicolas Depoortere scored his second straight brace for France, and Kalvin Gourgues, a 20-year-old center, debuted off the bench and broke from inside his own half to gift Louis Bielle-Biarrey his second try.

The Wallabies were consigned to a first winless tour of Europe since 1958 and a record 10th loss in a single year.

They were said to be mentally and physically exhausted after consecutive losses to England, Italy and Ireland, but they started brilliantly to set up hooker Matt Faessler to crash through France centers Depoortere and Gael Fickou for the opening try.

Bielle-Biarrey set up the reply by Depoortere, and while Wallabies flyhalf Tane Edmed missed his second goalkick, he converted a try by prop Angus Bell, who chucked off Thomas Ramos and broke clear from 40 meters out.

France struck twice in a row when Julien Marchand’s turnover was capped by a try for Ramos, and Bielle-Biarrey finished a sensational solo try from his own chip and running catch.

Faessler’s second try, following a yellow card for France scrumhalf Maxime Lucu, tied the score on 19-19 at halftime.

After the interval, Ramos broke free and Bielle-Biarrey came off his wing to send Depoortere over again.

But a turnover on halfway by Australia put the ball in the hands of fullback Max Jorgensen, who tore away and, with three Frenchmen bearing down on him, cleverly kicked ahead and slid onto the ball in goal.

Edmed’s touchline conversion had Australia just 27-26 behind.

Marchand’s try from a lineout maul propelled France further ahead again. But despite Tom Hooper being in the sin-bin for side entry into a maul, Australia just missed a try chance when the pass went behind Rob Valetini on the line.

In a fitting flourish, Gourges teed up Bielle-Biarrey for France to go a decisive 15 points ahead, followed by first test tries for Australia’s Josh Nasser and France’s Maxime Lamothe.