Wallabies edge out courageous French

The Australian Wallabies have narrowly defeated a courageous French out-fit 37-31 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tonight.

France entered the match after a two-match Test Series in South Africa and looked somewhat jaded at the start but as the match wore on they dug deep and made the locals work hard for their victory. Six tries to four by full time with Wallaby Morgan Turinui coming off the bench for a double.

The Wallabies came into the game off the back of two huge wins over opponents that were far less of a challenge, Samoa and Italy. Half-back Stephen Larkham was award man of the match, he went over for the first Australian try and sent Turinui over for his first.

Cedric Heymans opened the try-feast in the 14th minute with a cut-out intercept pass of Chris Latham's. Dejavu hit the Queensland ground as six weeks earlier their Rugby League Origin team won off the same move. With Michalak taking on more of a pivotal role the conversion duties were with their skipper, Jean Baptiste Elissalde, who landed the first of five successful attempts.

Australia replied in the 25th minute when Larkham went on a 60-metre solo run, after fending off two defenders. Latham recovered from his off-pass to grab the second try just before the main break. Unlike Elissalde, Matt Giteau appeared to have left his kicking boots at home as he only managed two from eight, though several were from the sideline after corner tries.

Turinui was unlucky not to have a hat-trick when, in the 31st minute, Elissalde tackled the replacement centre over the sideline. France were also unlucky, seconds before the half-time interval, when Benoit Baby was held up by Rocky Elsom.

Australia led 15-7 at the break, injuries however soured slightly the match as captain George Gregan (back), and his Brumbies team-mate Stirling Mortlock (hamstring), along with Western Force recruit Nathan Sharpe (cut hand) were all assisted off. Mortlock is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks.

Just as in the first half, Julien Laharrague went over for France. His 52nd minute try along with Elissalde's perfect kicking reduced the margin to just one-point. Reds departing duo, Sharpe and Wendell Sailor saw Australia move clear by six-points. Sharpe flicked the ball out to Sailor, who charged over in the corner.

Turinui's first of the night was quickly followed by forward Jeremy Paul's and the home side led 30-14 with 14 minutes to play. Again France hit back through replacement Damien Traille, his try along with Elissalde's conversion and penalty goal opened the door that was almost certainly shut with the Paul try.

Australia, though, prevailed with Turinui crossing again, in the 76th minute, despite the French adding their fourth try, to replacement Julien Candelon, in the final minute.

Next week, the Wallabies host South Africa on Saturday night at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney in the first of two matches for the Mandela Plate, the second match follows on July 23 before the highly anticipated Tri-Nations Series for 2005 begins.

AUSTRALIA	37
Tries: Morgan Turinui 2, Stephen Larkham, Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Jeremy Paul. Conversions: Matt Giteau, Mat Rogers. Penalties: Matt Giteau.
FRANCE	31
Tries: Cedric Heymans, Julien Laharrague, Damien Traille, Julien Candelon. Conversions: Jean Baptiste Elissalde 4. Penalties: Jean Baptiste Elissalde.
@ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.   Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)   Crowd: 50,826 Weather: Fine, Night.   Surface: Good.   Half Time: Australia 15-7.