Red-card controversy as Aussies take series

AUSTRALIA.......................33 FRANCE.............................30

NOAH Lolesio kicked a lastminute penalty as 14-man Australia recovered from an early red card to beat France 33-30 and claim the three-Test series 2-1.

Baptiste Couilloud and Cameron Woki scored tries for the visitors as Tate McDermott and Lolesio crossed for the hosts with the game tied at the break.

The sides exchanged secondhalf tries before Lolesio struck the winning kick.

Australia winger Marika Koroibete was controversially sent off in the fifth minute for a high tackle on France captain Anthony Jelonch, a decision by referee Ben O’Keeffe in consultation with the TMO which sparked derision from the crowd in excess of 30,000 in Brisbane.

Jelonch ducked slightly to brace for contact, but spilt the ball and after doing so held his face and jumped backwards to the ground.

Afterwards, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie hinted that he thought Jelonch had made the most of the challenge.

“The angles we saw initially, we thought it was shoulder contact first,” Rennie said.

“I guess they’ve got to make their call based on images they’re seeing. Ben’s an excellent referee, but I think there was a couple of situations where our guys got clocked in the head but they didn’t stay down and got up and got on with it. Maybe that’s the difference.

“We talked a lot about character. It was an opportunity for us to stand up and show the country how tight this group is. They’re prepared to work hard for each other and we saw that in spades tonight.

“I’m incredibly proud of them. Amazing character. We will really grow from this. A pretty special night.”

The Wallabies’ ninth consecutive win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane ensured they won a tight series, in which the previous two games had both been decided by two points.

“So proud,” skipper Michael Hooper said. “We love playing here. The crowd got us home. [Lolesio] is kicking rain, hail or shine when everyone is off the field. He gets the rewards there today.”

AUSTRALIA: Tries:

McDermott, Lolesio, Tupou.

Cons: Lolesio 3. Pens: Lolesio 4.

FRANCE: Tries: Couilloud,

Woki, Barassi. Cons: Jaminet 3. Pens: Jaminet 3.