Following a 48-33 victory for France against Australia in Paris on Saturday, here’s our winners and losers from the high-scoring Autumn Nations Series meeting.
Winners
Louis Bielle-Biarrey
He is something special and arguably the box office player on the planet right now. His first try took so much doing, and it’s difficult to do it justice, just watch and enjoy it yourself. He then went on to set up Nicolas Depoortere’s second try before he raced over to complete his own brace late on. There is no substitute for speed.
Nicolas Depoortere
What a night for the classy Bordeaux-Begles centre as he picked up the Player of the Match gong after grabbing his second try double of the month in a France jersey. At 22 his future looks bright in the international arena and there was a lovely moment after the triumph when his parents savoured this special period with him.
Watching your little boy put on a masterclass in front of 80,000 fans….a day to remember! 💙
Nicolas Depoortere took the Player of the match award and scored twice! 🔥#QuiterNS #QCNS pic.twitter.com/tPVwTQVBw3
— Quilter Nations Series (@QuilterNations) November 22, 2025
Angus Bell
Another one of the try scorers in Paris and what a try it was from the loosehead as it came from nothing. Receiving a bullet pass which sent him backtracking, he then shrugged off France star Thomas Ramos before pinning his ears back for the line. It is a shame he hobbled off on 57 minutes as that soured his evening somewhat.
Emmanuel Meafou
What a specimen this giant lock is. When he is on song, France are a force to be reckoned with as his physicality gets them on the front foot every time he touches the ball or cleans out a ruck. In truth, Meafou was a beast all 66 minutes he was on the pitch and played a big part in a dominant French pack sending Julien Marchand over.
Max Jorgensen
It’s hard to believe he is still just 21 as Jorgensen continues to take to international rugby like a duck to water. His score on Saturday showed speed of thought and, well speed, as he put boot to ball when a French chaser was within reach and then somehow found another gear to get to the bobbling ball first. A long Test future for sure.
Thomas Ramos
An 18-point haul that included a try sees Ramos reach 3,000 points in his professional career. He’s approaching 500 for France and should hit that in the Six Nations.
Kalvin Gourgues
Remember the name. On debut the 20-year-old Toulouse centre was certainly no shrinking violet as he announced himself to the world with this cameo. Gorgeues was on the field for 14 minutes but he made every second count, with his rapid break from his own 22 and pass without breaking stride to Bielle-Biarrey out of the top drawer.
Losers
Joseph Suaalii
A disappointing month for the ex-NRL star and he struggled defensively against France. Aerially, too he wasn’t at his best and was eventually replaced before the hour. Suaalii is probably in desperate need of a good rest, but questions do remain on how the Wallabies can get the most out of him in 2026. Is centre actually his best position?
Charles Ollivon
His evening was cut short after just 16 minutes after he copped a head-on collision with Wallabies captain Harry Wilson. It left Ollivon sporting a shiner as he watched the remainder of the game from the stands. The outstanding back-row will no doubt be hugely disappointed that he didn’t have more of a say in his favoured position.
Defence coaches
France defence coach Shaun Edwards was in great spirits after the game and chirped, “No one comes to watch defence”. It might have been a case of if he didn’t laugh, he’d cry, as Edwards lives for rock solid rearguards and inside wouldn’t have been best pleased at shipping 33 points to the Wallabies. Australia too were far too open last night.