Wallabies defeat France 6-0 in second rugby union Test in Melbourne - ABC Local

Updated June 14, 2014 22:27:33

Australia secured a series win against France via a dour 6-0 victory in the second Test at Docklands on Saturday evening.

SCOREBOARD: AUS 6-0 FRA

	6-0
at Docklands, June 14 2014
11	Pens conceded	12
49%	Time in opp half	51%
8/7	Line-outs won	22/21
9/6	Scrums Feeds/Won	4/4
Australia: 6 (B Foley, N White pens) France: 0

View full stats sheet

Interview: Ewen McKenzie

Interview: Israel Folau

It was a tryless affair with the Wallabies points coming via penalty goals to Bernard Foley and Nic White, a farcry from their 50-23 thrashing the hosts handed France in the opening Test in Brisbane last weekend.

Playing in Melbourne, heartland of Australian Rules football, the Wallabies appeared determined to kick away possession, but derived little advantage from the tactic, and blew several promising drives with poor execution.

France executed the first promising move, however, a kick forward in the third minute sparking a foot-race between Foley and French full-back Brice Dulin to the line, but the Wallabies fly half prevailed by inches to cut off the chance.

The Wallabies were controversially denied what would have been the match's opening try to number eight Ben McCalman on video review in the 22nd minute, prompting howls of derision from the stands.

A smart chipped kick from inside the French 22 by inside centre Matt Toomua allowed McCalman to touch down but in the wild scramble toward the line Toomua was deemed to have tackled an opponent without the ball, though the contact was minimal and superfluous to the play.

After Dulin missed a long-range penalty in the opening 20 minutes, half-back Morgan Parra botched a second three minutes before the break, leaving both teams scoreless to half-time and a crowd of 27,000 frustrated.

White repaid the favour twice in two minutes straight after the re-start, spraying the first kick wide and striking the post with the second, and though the rebound opened up a scoring chance out wide, the home side left it begging with a pass that sailed too high.

Foley finally ticked the scoreboard over in the 53rd minute with a penalty kick from straight in front, drawing ironic cheers from the crowd.

France was perhaps the more profligate, however, their few forays into the Wallabies' half cut short by an errant pass or handling error.

An off-side penalty against replacement flanker Antoine Burban gave White a penalty he could not miss in the 65th minute but the half-back sprayed a simple chance to make it 9-0 with nine minutes left.

France pushed in vain for a try in the final minutes, briefly rousing the unenthused crowd but the Wallabies cut off the threat to win their sixth successive match before next week's final Test in Sydney.

ABC/Reuters

Topics: rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted June 14, 2014 21:55:23