AS IT HAPPENED: The Wallabies will finish the 2025 season with a winless tour of Europe, but they produced their best performance of the tour, pushing France all the way in 48-33 shootout at a cold Stade de France.
The result sees Joe Schmidt finish the 2025 season with ten losses and five wins, with Paris loss seeing the side's attack looking sharp, but discipline and compounding mistakes once again proving the Wallabies' Achilles' heel.
Watch the Wallabies take on France live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The match marked Angus Bell and Len Ikitau's 50th Tests with Bell getting on the board with a phenomenal runaway try.
Matt Faessler scored a double in the first half as the Wallabies took the lead early; however, France struck back with three tries of their own to Nicolas Depoortere, Thomas Ramos, and World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
The result was a frenetic, entertaining first half that saw the lead change many times, with both sides inevitably being unable to be split as they went to the break.
However, the match opened up hugely in the second half, with the Wallabies discipline coming back to bite them, conceding ten penalties in the half.
Tries to Maxime Lamothe and Julien Marchand off the maul and a long-range second effort to Bielle-Biarrey proved too much ultimately. Despite tries to Max Jorgensen and Josh Nasser keeping the visitors in the hunt, it ultimately proved too much.
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80+1' FRA 48 AUS 33 The Wallabies try to regather the kick-off, but the French shut it down and kick it out. That's the game and the year.
80' FRA 48 AUS 33 - TRY+Conversion: Maxime Lamothe France go to the maul, earn the advantage… and they score. That'll be enough to give the hosts the win. Ramos converts.
79' FRA 41 AUS 33 Wallabies clear off the restart as we head into the final stages, France go to the maul and earn the advantage. The attack comes to nothing, but we go back, and the French kick to the corner. That's the tenth penalty of the half against the Wallabies.
76' FRA 41 AUS 33 - TRY+Conversion: Josh Nasser Kalani Thomas is a Wallaby as he makes his debut for the last ten minutes. The Wallabies pick and go, and make it to the France 5m line. The Wallabies look good, but earn an advantage. The play breaks down, but the Wallabies decide to pick and go, and Nasser scores! Conversion successful, and the margin is back to eight.
73' FRA 41 AUS 26 - TRY+Conversion: Louis Bielle-Biarrey Wallabies scrum, and Daugunu attacks well. Wallabies are on the attack again - but Tizzano is penalised for clearing the French out off the ball. The French attack well… and got the length of the field! Louis Bielle-Biarrey has a double. That is a critical score for the French, and has likely put the match beyond doubt. Conversion successful.
70' FRA 34 AUS 26 Critical penalty for the Wallabies for obstruction, and they go to the corner. They attack and move into the 22, and earn an advantage. It comes to nought, be Pearce brings it back… and is that snow starting to fall? They go to the corner, and maul it well, but they've lost it and it's gone forward right on the French line. France counterattacks but throws it forward themselves.
66' FRA 34 AUS 26 - YELLOW CARD: Tom Hooper It's a worst-case scenario for the Wallabies as Hooper is also sent to the bin for obstruction in that try. The Wallabies have a big challenge ahead in the last 15 minutes.
65' FRA 34 AUS 26 - TRY+Conversion: Julien Marchand Off a penalty, France attack well off the maul and creep forward, earning an advantage for a side entry. Les Bleus go to the corner, they want a try… and the Wallabies are pinged for early entry to the maul. They get an official warning. France goes to the corner again, ominous signs here. They maul and they score!
61' FRA 27 AUS 26 The French nab penalty for the Wallabies not supporting their weight, and France go to the 22, but they knock it on. Wallabies scrum as Bell leaves the field and Aidan Ross comes on. Wallabies win the scrum and attack.
57' FRA 27 AUS 26 - TRY+Conversion: Max Jorgensen The French attack again… and out of nowhere Jorgensen has the ball and is off, he kicks ahead, pins the ears back… and scores! What an effort, the Wallabies are back in it! Edmed nails it from the sideline and it's a one-point game.
54' FRA 27 AUS 19 - TRY: Nicolas Depoortere Off a penalty, the French attack brilliantly and nearly get a 50/22. The Wallabies win the lineout on their 5m line, and then clear it after a few phases. France attacks again, and Ramos breaks through, with the French earning another penalty. Ominous signs for the Wallabies. They get to the 5m line, spin it wide… and Nicolas Depoortere goes over untouched! Ramos misses the conversion, but the French have their tails up.
48' FRA 22 AUS 19 - PENALTY GOAL: Thomas Ramos A big French shove sees them earn a penalty, and they point to the sticks to try and Ramos nails it to retake the lead.
44' FRA 19 AUS 19 The Wallabies are pinged early, and the hosts move into the halfway before they start the attack, but earn it back thanks to a McReight penalty. They kick into the 22, but the lineout is pinged for not being straight. Scrum time, and the French earn a free kick.
40' FRA 19 AUS 19 The ref blows his whistle and we're back underway for the final half of rugby in 2025. The Wallabies have made some changes, with Alaalatoa now in the side.
40' FRA 19 AUS 19 Into the closing stages of the first half, and the Wallabies clear off the restart, France win the lineout and attack, going to the maul, before attacking, before Pietsch shuts it down brilliantly to create a maul, and the Wallabies get the ball back. Scrum time. They win and go on the attack up to halfway. Edmed attempts a kick ahead but it goes out, and it's halftime.
38' FRA 19 AUS 19 - TRY+Conversion: Matt Faessler The Wallabies finally go to the rolling maul, and it pays off! Faessler scores his second, and the Wallabies are back level thanks to a great Edmed conversion from the sidelines.
36' FRA 19 AUS 12 - YELLOW CARD: Maxime Lucu A deliberate knock on sees the Wallabies with a penalty, and they go for touch. Crucial opportunity before halftime. They go off the lineout and attack well, and get an advantage… and Maxime Lucu is sent to the bin for repeat infringements.
32' FRA 19 AUS 12 - TRY+Conversion: Louis Bielle-Biarrey France go bang! They attack the left flank, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores a brilliant try as the hosts retake the lead. Ramos converts!
30' FRA 12 AUS 12 France are pinged for offside, and the Wallabies go to the corner. Lineout won, but Tupou is pinged for offside, and the French survive again. The Wallabies drive too early off the maul from the clearance lineout, and are pinged again and are marched further. Big moment in the match as the hosts kick into enemy territory.
27' FRA 12 AUS 12 - TRY: Thomas Ramos A blunder at the lineout and the French pounce on it into the Wallabies 22. They go to the big men, before queuing up down the left flank and Ramos goes over! The fullback can't convert his own try, though, and we are locked up.
22' FRA 7 AUS 12 - TRY+Conversion: Angus Bell Another venture into the French 22 comes to nought, but the French are pinged offside, and Gordon goes quickly. The support gets there, and Bell goes through to score! Brilliant run. Conversion successful!
18' FRA 7 AUS 5 Wallabies looking very dangerous in attack, and have earned another penalty. Harry Wilson points to the sticks, Edmed steps up, but pulls it to the right.
15' FRA 7 AUS 5 After several dangerous passages and one shutdown from the French, Harry Wilson in space and combines with Frost! However, they can't link up, and they knock it on. First scrum of the match, France win and clear.
10' FRA 7 AUS 5 - TRY+Conversion: Nicolas Depoortere France counterattacks brilliantly, and go long range! Nicolas Depoortere is the benefactor as the hosts score! Conversion successful, and the hosts lead for the first time.
7' FRA 0 AUS 5 France have a reply of their own after the restart, earn a penalty and now they go to the corner. They attack well, and look dangerous too, but Taniela Tupou wins a penalty for a steal. Wallabies survive and clear.
4' FRA 0 AUS 5 - TRY: Matt Faessler Great start from the Wallabies. A Bell break leads to a penalty, and the Wallabies go to the corner early. They attack well, and Faessler scores! Edmed misses, but the visitors lead early.
0' FRA 0 AUS 0 Luke Pearce blows his whistle, and we are underway!
Tries: Depoortere 2, Ramos, Bielle-Biarrey 2, Marchand, Lamothe
Cons: Ramos 5/7
Pens: Ramos 1/1
Cards: 36' - Lucu (Yellow)
Tries: Faessler 2, Bell, Jorgensen, Nasser
Cons: Edmed 4/6
Pens: Edmed 0/1
Cards: 65' - Hooper (Yellow)
KO T-MIN 1: The players are in position, and it's time to go! Let's play!
KO T-MIN 5: Both sides head out to a rapturous reception, with nearly 80,000 crowd in attendance in the French capital. The anthems are sung, and the players are ready to go!
KO T-MIN 15: Both sides are completing their warm-ups, and it's been confirmed that there are no late changes to either side for this clash, aside from the late changes of Billy Pollard and Carter Gordon confirmed after the Wallabies captain's run. Stade de France is filling up quickly, with a full house expected at Saint-Denis tonight.
KO T-MIN 20: Conditions in Paris are cold... very cold! The temperature is currently 0 degrees Celsius with a 16km/hr win heading due north, which will head from right to left on the live broadcast. A severe snow ice warning across much of the Paris Metro area, with Saint-Denis one of the highest areas at risk. Snow is a realistic possibility for tonight.
KO T-MIN 30: Welcome to our live coverage as the Wallabies face France in Paris.
The match marks the final clash of the year for both teams, with the Wallabies making five initial changes to the side that lost to Ireland, with two more following the late losses of Carter Gordon and Billy Pollard.
France will be looking for their third win in a row against the gold and green, with the Wallabies last tasting victory over Les Bleus in 2021 in Brisbane.
Australia (15-1): Max Jorgensen; Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Replacements: Josh Nasser, Aidan Ross, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Kalani Thomas, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu
France (15-1): Thomas Ramos; Damian Penaud, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Fickou, Louis Bielle-Biarrey; Romain Ntamack, Maxime Lucu; Gregory Alldritt (capt), Charles Ollivon, Anthony Jelonch; Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament; Regis Montagne, Julien Marchand, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: Maxime Lamothe, Rodrigue Neti, Thomas Laclayat, Romain Taofifenua, Hugo Auradou, Oscar Jegou, Baptiste Jauneau, Kalvin Gourgues
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU) & Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
The Wallabies' clash with France will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, scheduled to start at 6:30 am (AEDT), with kick-off slated for 7:10 am.
The game will not be shown on free-to-air TV, not covered under the anti-siphoning laws.
