France levels test series

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32776, 29 November 1971, Page 24

France levels test series

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

PARIS.

The Australian Rugby team failed in its campaign to beat France in the test series when it lost, 9-18, to a revitalised French team in Paris on Saturday.

In a match in which kicking accounted for 23 points, France scored the only try and was more accurate with its kicks.

But Australia came fairly close to repeating its upset win in the first test last week when it came from 11 points behind to win 13-11. Mid-way through the second half, with France leading 15-6, the Wallabies put on the type of charge that carried them to victory last week. The French side was suddenly scrambling in defence to stop attack after attack, while the Australians

seemed unable to do anything wrong. But the new French side did not crumble and it had enough left to hold Australia.

The Wallabies were put off balance at the start of the match when the hooker, P. Johnson, playing his recordbreaking forty-second test for Australia, left the field with a muscular injury in his right leg. The reserve hooker, R. Thompson, held his own, conceding only one tight-head to the fast-striking Frenchman, R. Benesis, but the possession won by Australia was often untidy and the half-back, J. Hipwell, was caught in possession or forced to hurry his pass several times. Hipwell also had his headaches with line-outs. France won 21 line-outs to the Wallabies’ 14, and much of the ball that came to Hipwell from line-outs was uncontrolled.

i In the backs, the Wallabies j found themselves closely watched by the Frenchmen. [The five-eighths, Fairfax, j was given little leeway by the opposition flankers, but apart from a couple of errors had another good game. After being tackled out of the game last week, the French centres today stood deep and kicked the ball instead of running it. G. Shaws attempts to create second-phase play by taking the tackle in centrefield were also covered by the French, who were quicker to rucks than the previous week and were able to smother the ball on most occasions.

For Australia, A. McGill kicked a penalty goal and J. McLean kicked two.