​Nations Championship round two unfolded with France delivering a commanding performance to defeat Australia in Brisbane, sealing a 42-21 victory and handing Joe Schmidt’s side a sixth straight defeat. France’s charge was spearheaded by a scoring burst from Grandidier Nkanang, who crossed for two tries on debut, along with efforts from Ntamack, Verhaeghe, and Attisogbe in a second-half surge that left Australia bereft of momentum after the halftime lead. Aaron Grandidier Nkanang’s 32nd-minute try, followed by a dominant spell after halftime, helped France overturn a 21-12 deficit and showcase why they had previously rebounded from a setback against the All Blacks to achieve their fourth consecutive win over Australia in this fixture.
The opening exchanges had Australia looking strong, building a 21-12 lead at the interval thanks to Fraser McReight’s double score that mirrored an early push from the hosts. McReight was exceptional, dotting down twice as the Wallabies capitalized on Emmanuel Meafou’s yellow card early in the second quarter to stretch their advantage. Yet the second half became a different story altogether as France uncorked a relentless flurry of tries and momentum shifts that Australia could not counter.
In the final analysis, France’s attack found its rhythm with a series of well-timed strikes. Grandidier Nkanang continued his impressive debut with a second try, while Ntamack, Verhaeghe, and Attisogbe crossed in quick succession to push France out to a substantial lead. The scoring onslaught reached 32 unanswered points as France dominated the second period, building a lead that Australia could not erode. The French defense also tightened, limiting the Wallabies to a late Jeremy Williams try that earned Australia a deserved try bonus point but could not salvage the outcome.
Paris-based and Brisbanian talents alike contributed to France’s victory. For Australia, Tom Wright and Len Ikitau were among those who carried the fight, but the lack of cohesion in the face of France’s renewed assault left Schmidt’s side chasing the game for the final 40 minutes. Australia’s lineup featured Tom Wright at fullback, with Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the backline, and Dylan Pietsch operating in the back three as Declan Meredith lined up at fly-half. The pack, including Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, and Josh Canham, fought hard at the breakdown, while Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight supplied the grunt in the middle, but the scoreline tells the story of a France side that found its rhythm when it mattered most.
France’s lineup on the day looked to have found a balance that allowed their backline to threaten from anywhere on the park. Matthieu Jalibert guided the attack from fly-half, with Theo Attissogbe and Yoram Moefana providing steady ball distribution and pace out wide. Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, with his two tries on debut, announced himself as a player to watch, while Romain Ntamack offered control and expertise in the halves, supported by Maxime Lucu at scrum-half. Up front, Moses Alo-Emile, Peato Mauvaka, and Demba Bamba offered a sturdy scrum and strong hits at the collisions, with Lenni Nouchi, Oscar Jegou, and Marko Gazzotti providing midfield structure and physicality.
Replacements played their part as well, with Maxime Lamothe, Jefferson Poirot, Tevita Tatafu, Hugo Auradou, Tom Staniforth, Killian Tixeront, Nolann Le Garrec, and Kalvin Gourgues contributing to the forward platform and backline depth as the match unfolded. The referee for the fixture was Karl Dickson (RFU), and his whistle guided a game that delivered high-intensity rugby across 80 minutes, culminating in a performance that left France buoyant about continuing their winning run and Australia braced for the challenge of the upcoming fixtures.
Looking ahead, France, having rebound from a previous defeat, now prepare to take on Japan in their next assignment, while Australia turn their attention to a clash with Italy in what will be Joe Schmidt’s final game in charge before Les Kiss assumes the role. The result underlined the effectiveness of France’s second-half plan and the resilience of their squad, marking an encouraging turning point in a Nations Championship campaign that remains wide open as teams jostle for position.