Australia's half-time lead evaporates as France powers to 42-26 victory
Australia lost their sixth consecutive Test match, falling 26-42 to France despite leading 21-12 at halftime. Coach Joe Schmidt admitted his team lacks the depth to compete with top sides, with France's bench proving decisive.
Australia's Wallabies suffered their sixth straight defeat on Sunday, losing 42-26 to France in the Nations Championship. It is their worst losing streak since the aftermath of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. Australia had led 21-12 at halftime, but France scored 22 points in 16 minutes after the break to seize control.
In the first half, Australia played with tempo and simplicity. Flanker Fraser McReight, who registered 25 turnovers last season, scored two tries. Rob Valetini provided powerful carries, and Max Jorgensen made a crucial defensive intervention. For 40 minutes, Australia looked capable of matching a heavyweight opponent.
However, France's replacements turned the game. Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, and Florian Verhaeghe each scored tries as Australia's defence crumbled under sustained pressure. When Valetini left the field, Australia's effectiveness dropped noticeably, while France brought on fresh, powerful forwards.
Coach Joe Schmidt, who will leave after next week's match, acknowledged that the team's discipline and intensity faded due to the pressure France applied. His successor, Les Kiss, inherits a squad that can trouble most teams but struggles to maintain a high level for 80 minutes against the best.
With a home World Cup approaching, questions about Australia's squad depth and ability to compete with top sides are becoming urgent. If the Wallabies fail to perform at their own World Cup, it could damage fan support for years to come.
