This may have been just a match for 2015 rankings but both teams played like it was for the gold medal.
Australia v. France
by “Lee Grant”
In the contest for 5th place in next year’s rankings the young Wallabies came back from being 0-17 down at 13 minutes to take the lead in the 76th minute and hold on to win.
But things looked grim for them at the start of the game.
First half
Things went wrong from the start. The Aussies dropped the kickoff in their 22 and when France got the shove in the scrum 9. Baptiste Serin scooted away before passing to 11. Lucas Blanc to score.
Lucas Blanc – scored early
The next try was equally shocking when 11. Brad Lacey chased a kick near the France 22 and scooped back the ball to stop it going out. The problem was that the ball went to the French left winger Blanc and when he turned around with it the Australians were caught short of defenders in transition. After some nice interplay the right winger Kylan Hamdaoui scored down their left hand side.
Australia was down two tries and trailed 0-14. After Tom Staniforth was penalised in a maul the goal made the score 0-17 at 13 minutes.
France were ahead on the scoreboard from a few Aussie mistakes but they were also ahead in breakdown physicality and teamwork. You could see why these blokes were undefeated in the Under 20 Six Nations this year. The Australians didn’t look capable of getting out of a hole.
But then Aussies’ best player in the tournament 6. Sean McMahon got the ball about 35 metres out and looked to be tackled five times but he wasn’t. He bullied his tacklers, (mostly backs) and scored near the corner.
10. Jake McIntyre converted from out wide and not long afterwards they had a lineout near the France goal line. Their maul divided and the front part could have impeded defenders, but the referee gave the try to McMahon. After the try was converted France was still in front but by only 17-14.
Skipper Sean McMahon – scored two Aussie tries
Game on.
Australia had good luck when France missed a penalty goal but it turned bad when they chipped the ball right into the arms of 13. Xavier Mignot a couple of meters distant, near half-way. The Aussies were running the other way and he scored. When his try was converted it was 24-14 at 29 minutes and that was the score at oranges.
Australia was getting enough ball but France was tougher at the breakdown and some of their offloading was getting results.
Second half
It took a while to realise it but the Aussies started to play with more belief and starch after the break.
France had been better at the scrum and at the 44th minute they had the ball raked, but the Aussies got them on the second shove and 8. Ross Haylett-Petty picked up the loose ball. After a good run from 12. Jim Stewart, 15. Jonah Placid passed to 11. Andrew Kellaway and he went over to score his ninth try of the tournament, a new record.
Jonah Placid – gave pass to create new record
France had a couple of their defenders on the ground injured while this was happening: the karma was changing and the Aussies were too.
After another sideline conversion from McIntrye, Australia was within three points again: 24-21 France at 45 minutes.
France were kicking the ball long into Aussie territory at this point. They slotted a drop goal when there once but they couldn’t keep Australia away from French real estate for too long.
France did the territory thing once too often and after Haylett-Petty and 7. Jack Dempsey handled, the ball went to Kellaway who scored his second of the game, and tenth overall.
The wide kicked missed this time but France was ahead by only one point — 27-26 with 24 minutes left.
The Aussie bench was making an impact now and it had the stick on the French reserves.
France held on but when Australia were in the France 22 lock Matt Philip called himself in a lineout and a maul drive was set up. McMahon broke away from it and after play went to one side of the field it came back to the other and 2. Harry Scoble split two defenders near the line to score.
The kick missed but with five minutes to go Australia was ahead for the first time 31-27.
France had one last chance in Aussie territory but they lost a lineout. Afterwards a French player was retiring to his side of the ruck and reserve scrumhalf Joe Powell passed the ball into him. It looked deliberate, but the pass was on a direct line to reserve flyhalf David Horwitz. Penalty Australia.
Reserve centre Luke Burton slotted the goal and Australia had scored five tries to three to win 34-27
It was a flawed start to the game by the young Aussies but their fightback was inspiring.
Australia 34 (McMahon 2, Kellaway 2, Scoble, tries; McIntyre 3 cons, Burton pen) def France 27 (Blanc, Mignot, Hamdaoui tries; Serin 3 con, pen, Fajardo dg)
See page 4 for 2014 JWC Overview
