Wallabies cruise past France

[laura]

Wallabies cruise past France
ABC - June 28, 2008, 10:08 pm


Australia notched a comfortable 34-13 victory over France in Saturday night's rugby Test at Sydney's Olympic stadium to make it two wins from two in the Robbie Deans era.

Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock all crossed for the Wallabies, with Giteau slotting two penalties and four conversions.

A converted try and a penalty from Matt Giteau helped Australia to a 10-6 lead at half-time, before the home side extended the margin in the second stanza.

France looked to have the slight advantage early but neither side could produce any real scoring opportunities until the boot of Giteau gave the home side a 3-0 lead in the 19th minute.

But shortly after the French replied with a penalty of their own and the match appeared destined for a half-time deadlock, the Wallabies' half capped off a persistent passage of play with a try down the right hand side.

Cameron Shepherd let the tourists back into the game after the siren when he failed to find touch with a clearing kick and the ensuing passage of play gave France a penalty 16 metres out and straight in front.

[laura]

Giteau inspires Wallabies to half-time lead
ABC - June 28, 2008, 9:00 pm

A converted try and a penalty from Matt Giteau has helped Australia to a 10-6 lead over France in the rugby Test at Sydney's Olympic stadium this evening.

France looked to have the slight advantage early but neither side could produce any real scoring opportunities until the boot of Giteau gave the home side a 3-0 lead in the 19th minute.

But shortly after the French replied with a penalty of their own, and the match appeared destined for a half-time deadlock, the Wallabies' half capped off a persistent passage of play with a try down the right hand side.

Cameron Shepherd let the tourists back into the game after the siren when he failed to find touch with a clearing kick and the ensuing passage of play gave France a penalty 16 metres out and straight in front.

[laura]

Wallabies overpower Les Bleus
28/06/2008 10:11:50 PM
Steve Orme at ANZ Stadium


A dominant second-half performance has seen the Wallabies overcome France 34-13 in a scrappy encounter in front of 48,899 fans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Two tries in five minutes early in the second stanza gave the Wallabies the necessary breathing space having held a narrow half-time lead.

And when Stirling Mortlock crossed against the run of play with 18 minutes still to play the Wallabies had all but secured their second victory under new coach Robbie Deans.

The under-strength French provided spirited resistance throughout and looked to attack at every turn but found the stubborn Wallabies defence too great an obstacle for much of the match.

The Wallabies failed to convert their first scoring opportunity of the match when Matt Giteau pushed a very kickable penalty attempt wide of the uprights in the fourth minute.

France showed its attacking intentions from the outset when debutant Alexis Palisson had a promising first touch to stretch the hosts' defence, but it was the Australians who enjoyed the early weight of possession and territory.

Giteau made up for his early miss landing a penalty kick from close range to put the Wallabies 3-0 up at the midway point of the first half.

The visitors levelled the scores minutes later when Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu were penalised for not rolling away after burying fullback Pepito Elhorga into the turf in a bone-jarring tackle.

Dimitri Yachvili made no mistake from long-range but Elhorga's night came to an abrupt end after injuring his shoulder in the heavy hit.

The Wallabies were dealt their own injury blow when star wing Lote Tuqiri departed in the 29th minute with a jarred knee.

After an uninspired opening half-hour the Wallabies began to make inroads as Elsom, Mortlock and then Peter Hynes all made promising runs.

The dam finally burst four minutes out from the break when Giteau slid across field and through some tired French defence for a 10-3 lead.

Cameron Shepherd's decision not to send the ball into touch after the siren had sounded proved costly when the visitors were awarded a penalty to cut the deficit to four points.

Whatever Robbie Deans said to the Wallabies at the interval paid dividends when lock Nathan Sharpe burrowed over from close range follow some nifty lead-up work from scrumhalf Luke Burgess.

Giteau made no mistake to extend the hosts' advantage to 17-6 three minutes into the second half.

And when Rocky Elsom strolled through some shell-shocked French defence the Wallabies led 24-6 with 33 minutes still to play.

Typically, Les Bleus continued to attack only to be denied by some spirited Australian defence.

An intercept try to skipper Mortlock in the 62nd minute erased all hope of an unlikely French comeback as the hosts moved 34-6 ahead.

The tourists' first try came from an unlikely source when outspoken rookie Palisson delivered on his midweek trash talk to cross in heavy traffic.

Francois Trinh-Duc added the extras but it was to prove too little too late for France.

Australia 34
Tries: Giteau, Sharpe, Elsom, Mortlock
Cons: Giteau 4
Pens: Giteau 2

France 13
Tries: Palison,
Con: Trinh-Duc,
Pens: Yachvili 2,

Crowd: 48,899

[Thequeerone]

Did anyone else think the turning point came when Lote came off - this is not Tah Bashing just an observation

[robyn <3]

Did anyone else think the turning point came when Lote came off - this is not Tah Bashing just an observation

YES! i noticed that too! it had nothing to do with AAC though... btu it really became a different game when he was gone.

i except to see drew in the mix asap... aac is no drew!!

[Thequeerone]

Yep - could be a worry for Cam

[lara93]

wooohoooo
go wallabies!!!

[jono]

i wouldnt say we cruised. that first half leaves a lot to be desired...
we did ok, protected burgess a lot more. which is an awsome positive.
the forwards did a lot more work. elsom had one of his best games in a while.

more to come when i sober

[laura]

Did you have a pint Jono?

[jargan83]

3 i think
Posted via Mobile Device

[jono]

3, and have been drinking straight bourbon since i got home

[laura]

So is he drunk now or passed out?

[jono]

easy laura

[laura]

I'm passing time until the game is on crappy Channel 7

[jono]

the TWF crew met juliet tonight, just to let you know