Mortlock shuts the door on French hopes

Australia 31-25 France

2nd Test - Stadium Australia, Sydney

Australia win the two-match series 2-0

Australia held off a thrilling French comeback to seal a 2-0 series victory in front of 64,000 enthralled spectators at Stadium Australia.

Wing Stirling Mortlock scored two of the four Wallaby tries in an outstanding individual contribution and when the ACT star touched down for the second time to make it 31-18 with 17 minutes to go the result appeared sealed.

France were looking bedraggled and tired but somehow they galvanised the gallic spirit and launched a string of furious assaults on the Wallaby line.

Five minutes to go and memories of Blanco, Lagisquet et al were revived as the ball was transferred through many hands with bewildering speed. Eventually giant Montferrand wing Aurelien Rougerie glides to the posts with the Wallabies gasping.

Showing all their big match experience Australia drove the ball upfield and were in control again as the match entered stoppage time but a turnover gave the ball back to France in front of their own posts to set in train a stunning break out which would have givcen Merceron a difficult kick to win the game but for aq knock on 10 metres out.

The crowd and their Wallaby heroes let out a huge sigh of relief as referee Paul Honiss blew his whistle.

Wendell Sailor was given another chance to prove that he can permanently take over from the injured Ben Tune on the right wing and the former rugby league star certainly made an impact with some magical running in open play.

But he still has much to learn, as he showed when handling on the floor early on. He was reprived by Meeceron's bad miss from the tee.

Matt Burke got the scorebard ticking with a 19th minute penalty, a lead extened when Mortlock finished off a smooth back-line move to score a try in the corner.

France were on the rack at this stage and Sailor should have done better when one-on-one with flanker Betsen but on the half hour Australia scored their seond try in fortunate circumstances.

Chris Latham spilled the ball forward on halfway, the referee played advantage but France made little headway despite some smart handling before Rougerie knocked on. The whistle could have been blown but Honiss waved Burke on as he picked up and ran to the corner.

Any disgust felt by Rougerie was dispelled on 33 minutes when he gathered a Nicholas Brusque kick and beat Stephen Larkham to the touch down to get France off the mark.

France were given a boost just before half time when blockbusting flanker Owen Finegan was harshly sent to the sin bin having been deemed to have shoulder charged Serge Betsen. Merceron slotted a penalty to reduce the arrears to 13-8 at half time.

The French seized the opportunity early in the second half. Merceron's second penalkty was swiftly followed by a fine try . Olivier Magne (on as a substitute) and Fabien Pelous, the old warhorses, creating a score for prop Sylvain Marconnet.

Merceron's conversion gave France a five-point lead and Australia couldn't get Finegan back on the field quickly enough. Within three minutes of his arrival, the Wallabies scored a stunning try.

Mortlock sprinted on to a well-timed Larkham pass and floated the ball out to Sailor, the big wing hesitated before doing the right thing and passing to Herbert who slid home at the corner.

Mortlock regained the lead with a 57th minute penalty but France so nearly got back in front when lively substitute Cedric Heymans was only denied by excellent covering by Larkham with the line at his mercy.

Skipper George Gregan sensed the tightness of the situation and slotted a drop goal (his first in Test rugby) just after the hour mark to inch his side six points clear.

A rampaging Finegan run handed ACT team-mate Mortlock his second try and the game looked over.

The French were reeling as substitute Mat Rogers danced towards their line before juts being held up short but, as countless teams have discovered over the years, never write off the French.

It so nearly came off but Australia staggered to the end of their Tri Nations preparations victorious - this could be the wake-up call the Wallabies need.