Saturday 7 June 2014 15:03, UK
Australia produced a dominant display in Brisbane as they hit France for 50 in the opening Test of the series when running out 50-23 winners.
Australia lost their captain Stephen Moore in the opening minutes when he limped off with a knee injury, but that didn’t put the hosts off their stride one bit.
The Wallabies ran in seven tries from seven different scorers as they blew the French out of the water, with only a late Morgan Parra try and a penalty try adding any semblance of respectability to the scoreline for the visitors.
Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Michael Hooper and Matt Toomua all crossed in the first half as Australia opened out a 29-9 lead at the interval, before Nick Cummins, Kurtley Beale and Pat McCabe continued the onslaught in the second 40.
Bernard Foley added a further 15 points with the boot as he converted six of the seven tries and added a penalty, while Frederic Michalak kicked an early drop-goal to go with two penalties and two conversions.
Foley booted the Wallabies into an early lead but that was the only positive for them in the early stages with captain Stephen Moore picking up an injury.
Michalak then kicked a drop goal to get the French level before Moore hobbled off.
Foley hit the upright with a penalty attempt but it was not long before Australia had the lead, with Folau crossing for the game's opening try after 19 minutes.
Five minutes later the hosts had their second try with Cummins' kick through creating space for Nic White, whose pass was almost intercepted by Gael Fickou, but the ball ended up with Toomua who set up Ashley-Cooper to score.
Michalak nailed a penalty to reduce the deficit but Australia soon had another try with Cummins finding Tevita Kuridrani, who produced a clever flick to Hooper who went over.
Michalak kicked another three points but the visitors only had themselves to blame a minute before the break when they conceded a fourth try in farcical fashion.
Maxime Machenaud and Felix Le Bourhis got into a mess near their own line and, when the ball crossed the wash, Toomua was on hand to touch down for a gift. When Foley converted the lead was 20 points.
Australia thought they had a fifth try 13 minutes after the break but Ashley-Cooper’s effort was ruled out by the TMO – but they did not have to wait long for a score as Cummins registered four minutes later.
Two further tries in two minutes essentially ended the contest with Beale crossing over after some strong running and McCabe then getting on the scoresheet aided by some very poor French tackling.
Foley converted both to get the Wallabies to 50 points before Parra spun out of a tackle to get France a try, with the TMO adjudging he had just got the ball on the line.
Michalak converted before France were awarded a penalty try in the final minute but the points were papering over the cracks, with Philippe Saint-Andre's men soundly beaten.
