Wallabies extend losing streak after being blown away by France in Nations Championship

Maxime Lucu and his French colleagues celebrate victory after their comprehensive Nations Championship game against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Pic: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Aaron Grandidier Nkanang scored two tries on his debut early Saturday as France fought back to beat Australia and condemn Joe Schmidt's side to a sixth successive defeat.

A second half blitz from a rampant French side saw them storm to a 42-26 win at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to convincingly beat the Wallabies and claim their first victory of the Nations Championship. Ahead by nine at the break and looking confident, Australia were overrun after the interval, with Tom Wright's sin binning the catalyst for a French tirade that never really let up.

Both teams were stinging from narrow losses last week and their desperation told in a frantic early tempo. Despite an early jackal and what appeared to be a 50-22 kick from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the referee scrubbed it all for a high tackle. France took the gift, kicking deep and rolling into Australia’s red zone before unleashing the 145kg Brisbane-born wrecking ball Emmanuel Meafou from point blank. France 0-7.

Australia were stunned and so was their hooker Josh Nasser who left the field for an HIA, bringing Brandon Paenga-Amosa into the fray. He made an immediate impact, throwing an audacious short line-out which Ryan Lonergan shimmied back. The gold jerseys piled in and peeled off, Paenga-Amosa finishing what he began to level it 7-7.

Australia were still making errors and a fumble off the kick-off put them under the pump. A Josh Canham steal and clearance by debutant flyhalf Declan Meredith got them out of trouble, but Les Bleus weren’t done. Their No 10 Romain Ntamack dinked a grubber into the left corner, Meredith tried to shepherd it into touch only to see Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang fly around the blind side, steal the ball and score.

After much of 2025 on the sidelines, Tom Wright had returned and his 50-22 got Australia back on track. As the Wallabies rumbled upfield, Meafou’s head clattered into Rob Valetini’s and was considered dangerous enough to be yellow-carded. The home side made the most of the one-man advantage, with a tap and go which set up repeat raids. Finally the blue line snapped and Fraser McReight thundered over.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson is a gambler. Last week his decision to play it safe and chase three points over five (twice) backfired with both kicks sailing wide. In the 32nd minute he rolled the dice, kicking for the corner. Josh Canham seized the lineout and the gold maul steamrolled over, with McReight notching the third double of his career. Lonergan nailed a third conversion to put Australia ahead 21-12.

That half-time advantage didn’t last long. First France Maxime Lucu slotted a penalty to bring his team within a converted score. That try came minutes later as Lucu spun the ball quickly after a Yoram Moefana charge. Fullback Matthieu Jalibert flew into the line, and kicked behind the gold line for Grandidier-Nkanang to collect and touch down.

But France weren’t done. With both teams emptying their benches, the tourists’ fresh legs served them better, their maul rumbling into the red zone where Ntamack snuck down the short side and beat Lonergan for pace to snatch back the lead 21-27. With Wright still cooling his heels, Les Bleus went in for the kill, Grandidier-Nkanang and Jalibert were at it again, counter-attacking 70-metres to send Florian Verhaeghe over.

At 34-21 down with a quarter to play, Australia looked cooked when Jalibert’s fast hands at the lineout fed Théo Attissogbe to crash over from close range. But they lived again when the referee found a forward pass. Could Australia capitalise? After Lucu’s penalty they needed 16 points in as many minutes. They launched a breathless assault upfield, every gold jersey chiming in but dud passes snuffed each opportunity.

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Browse more newsletters after newsletter promotion As they had last week against Ireland, Australia had squandered a strong start and half-time lead. France then showed them what elite rugby is about, cutting through with fast hands and feet to send Attissogbe over for 42-21. A sold-out Suncorp stadium, already reeling from a Queensland loss in State of Origin, hung their heads.

There was a consolation try at the end but no one cheered. For the Wallabies it is a ninth loss in 10 Tests. They have now frittered two home Tests and a lot of local support. If they lose to Italy in Perth next week, they will send Schmidt out a loser. A new coach in Les Kiss – and a new approach – can’t come soon enough.

AUSTRALIA: T Wright; M Jorgensen; J-Aukuso Suaalii, L Ikitau; D Pietsch; D Meredith, R Lonergan; A Bell, J Nasser, A Alaalatoa, J Canham, J Williams; R Valetini, F McReight, H Wilson.

Replacements: B Paenga-Amosa, J Slipper, T Tupou, L Shaw, N Champion de Despigny, T McDermott, J Campbell, F Daugunu.

France: M Jalibert; T Attissogbe; F Brau-Boirie, Y Moefana; A Grandidier Nkanang; R Ntamak, M Lucu; M Alo-Emile, P Mauvaka, D Bamba, F Veraeghe, E Meafou, L Nouchi, O Jegou, M Gazzotti.

Replacements: M Lamothe, J Poirot, T Tatafu, H Auradou, T Staniforth, K Tixeront, N le Garrec, K Gourgues.

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)