Australia\u2019s Wallaroos have been left frustrated after a potentially huge Test win got away as an undisciplined France escaped with a miraculous comeback, having been 19 points down and reduced to just 11 players at one stage.<\/p>\n
On an extraordinary day of Test rugby, exacerbated by off-field drama when the second half was delayed by a bus on fire adjacent to the Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence, French fans were left stunned at how their depleted side somehow still conjured a 29-26 win on Saturday.<\/p>\n
And Australia, the world\u2019s No 9 side, will wonder how they let off the hook the fourth-ranked French side who were at one point in the first half down to 11 players after a red card and three yellows, including one upgraded to a 20-minute red.<\/p>\n
It enabled the Wallaroos to power into a 19-0 lead but it still proved not enough to stop France fighting back to prevail with three second-half tries, even while suffering a sixth card after the break.<\/p>\n
Black smoke rises from a bus that was on fire near the stadium during the Test. Photograph: David Ramos\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Wallaroos coach Tim Walsh reflected pride as well as disappointment for his team post-match.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put ourselves in a position to win and we didn\u2019t execute,\u201d he said. \u201cThe positive is we put ourselves in position to win, but we are disappointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticularly on half-time when the French scored with 13 players \u2013 that is unacceptable. And that\u2019s probably where momentum shifted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Walsh and captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona saw the match as a step forward in the drive to become a tier-one team ahead of the home 2029 World Cup, with the need for more such competition to keep improving game management and other skills.<\/p>\n
Australia, who also had Michaela Leonard sent to the bin in the second half to complete the seven-card chaos, didn\u2019t help themselves as the French reeled off 17 unanswered points in the final 25 minutes to turn a 26-12 deficit into the most unlikely win.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the four Australian tries from Britanny Merlo, Tania Naden, Caitlyn Halse and Piper Duck weren\u2019t enough for them to follow up last week\u2019s comprehensive loss to England<\/a> with a morale-boosting win.<\/p>\n Australia’s Amelia Whitaker fights for the ball. Photograph: Clement Mahoudeau\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The craziness began early, with France hit with four cards in 20 minutes as Ambre Mwayembe, Lea Champon and Lea Murie were all binned for high tackles \u2013 Mwayembe\u2019s being upgraded to a 20-minute red \u2013 before Chloe Correa got a straight red for eye-gouging in the maul.<\/p>\n
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