It was a case of too little, too late for the Wallabies as France stormed back into the contest in the second half, leaving Australia reeling from a comprehensive 42-26 defeat in the Nations Championship. The visitors had set the tone early, leading 21-12 at the break with some scintillating play that left the French on the ropes.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa was a shining light for the Wallabies, scoring a try from a clever short lineout, while Fraser McReight burrowed over twice – including one during an Emmanuel Meafou sin-binning – and once more from the back of a well-oiled maul orchestrated by Josh Canham. His tireless work rate was the stuff of dreams, epitomised by a crucial turnover early in the second half, while Rob Valetini's thunderous carries and Tom Wright's tactical kicking were also highlights.
But it all came crashing down as France introduced their bench heavyweights, who simply overwhelmed the Australian defence. Tries from Yoram Moefana, Romain Ntamack, and Florian Verhaeghe showcased France's ability to break tackles, exploit mismatches, and maintain relentless pressure. Coach Schmidt looked stumped, struggling to find an answer to France's sheer depth of talent and power – particularly in the forward pack.
The lack of depth on the Australian bench was brutally exposed as key players like Rob Valetini departed, replaced by Nick Champion de Crespigny and others who couldn't quite match the might of their French counterparts. It was a gulf that poses a significant challenge for the Wallabies – especially with a home World Cup looming large.
As Schmidt prepares to depart next week, Les Kiss will inherit a squad that has shown flashes of brilliance but lacks the resilience and depth required to withstand 80 minutes of intense pressure from the world's top rugby nations. The recent defeats are a stark reminder of the urgent need for Australia to find solutions to bridge this gap – and fast.