The Stade de France clock shows 74 minutes and 46 seconds when Matthieu Jalibert makes the dismissal following a penalty from Reece Hodge bringing the score to 25-29 in favor of the Australians.
Time flies and the Blues, winded, imprecise, seem to be heading for their first defeat since July 2021 after a series of ten straight wins.
But an average clearance of the Wallabies offers ammunition to the French.
A crumb, received by Jalibert in the middle of the field, whose partners Antoine Dupont will soon have a feast.
The Bordeaux opener finds a first fault and goes up about thirty meters.
After two percussions from Jonathan Danty and Anthony Jelonch, and despite a slow ball release, Dupont serves second line Romain Taofifenua who alerts Jalibert behind his back.
“Matthieu calls me quite early, so I know what to do when I get the ball,” says the second line.
In the blink of an eye, the French opener, who entered the game in place of Romain Ntamack, spots the free space left in the 15m corridor by the Australian defense to extend a long pass, at the limit of the ahead, for Damian Penaud.
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The Clermont winger, very fit on Saturday evening but until then well muzzled by the Wallabies defense, this time has a clear field in front of him.
He picks up speed, makes an inside hook on his Australian counterpart Wright before sharpening the back Campbell to slip into the in-goal (30-29).
A class action, that of an outstanding finisher, who scored his 19th try in Blue (in 35 selections) but above all the 9th in his last nine matches with the selection.
“He is one of the best wingers in the world, he has already scored a lot of tries like this.
We had defended him well all game and we probably left him a little too much space on that one, we could have done better,” admitted Australia coach Dave Rennie.
“I don't see the end of the action but… thank you Damien!
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Several times in the match, we had felt Penaud frustrated, annoyed even after the forward of a teammate in the first period.
This thoroughbred race in the 76th minute looks like a liberating act.
“We knew that we were not in a good position, analyzed captain Antoine Dupont in a press conference, but we also knew that we would have opportunities to score because we had already had them before.
Of course, there is a flash of Damian, but it is also part of our game, of the individual strengths of our team and we also have the right to take advantage of it (smile).
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After his pass for Jalibert, Romain Taofifenua tells the rest.
Well, almost… “I don't see the end of the action, I don't know how it comes out but… thank you Damian!
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Cyril Baille, he was out at the time of his teammate's feat.
It vibrated from the edge of the field.
“This end to the match is incredible with a try from Damian of which he has the secret.
On the bench, we see him take the ball, avoid a tackle, then a second, we say to ourselves he will score, he will score.
Kudos to him because he wasn't quite that one.
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