Late try sees France pip Wallabies

France denied the Wallabies an epic victory, snatching a record 11th straight test win to underline their 2023 Rugby World Cup favouritism.

A try to winger Damian Penaud five minutes from fulltime earned Les Bleus a dramatic 30-29 triumph in Paris yesterday.

The Wallabies produced a 95-metre contender for try of the year but ultimately paid the price once more for their illdiscipline and lack of attention to detail at Stade de France.

Sharp-shooting fullback Carlos Ramos punished the Wallabies for their every infringement, nailing six penalty goals and a conversion for a telling 20-point individual haul.

Bernard Foley had a mixed game, setting up a second-half try for debutant fullback Jock Campbell and drilling four penalties and two conversions but also making a couple of costly blunders.

But coach Dave Rennie’s decision to remove the veteran playmaker seven minutes from time bewildered former Wallabies in commentary as Les Bleus struck late to break Australian hearts.

Ireland did enough to beat world champions South Africa 19-16 in an arm

wrestle at Lansdowne Road yesterday to justify their ascent to No 1 in the rankings.

Ireland broke a 6-6 halftime deadlock with two tries in four minutes early in the second half, the first from a lineout maul by flanker Josh van der Flier and then a more expansive counter-attack score from left wing Mack Hansen.

Ireland led 16-6 at that point and appeared set to see the game home, but South Africa bit back through replacement forward Franco Mostert and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, whose try in the left corner with three minutes to go threatened an upset in Dublin.

Ireland didn’t let it happen and continued their impressive recent record at Lansdowne Road, where they have won three straight against the Springboks.

Scotland weathered a strong start from Fiji to pull clear in the second half and prevail 28-12 at Murrayfield yesterday.

The hosts looked set for a smooth afternoon when George Turner’s early try put them ahead, but Fiji hit back with two tries and had the Scots on the ropes.

Touchdowns on either side of halftime by first five-eighth Sam Hastings and wing Duhan van der Merwe helped Scotland regain the upper hand. Replacement halfback Ben White added another try in the closing stages.

In other matches yesterday, Italy outclassed Samoa 49-17 in Padua, Italy, and Tonga beat Spain 40-6 in Malaga.