Wallabies walking tall despite ugly win over France
Australia coach is proud of team who ground out a try-less victory in lowest winning score in 87 years against a more resolute Les Bleus
The Wallabies may have been held to their lowest winning score in 87 years by France, but coach Ewen McKenzie said yesterday he was pleased his team was finding different ways to win.
Australia edged out Les Bleus 6-0 on the back of two penalty goals in a stilted try-less performance in Melbourne to claim the series with a test to play coming on the back of their 50-23 rout the previous week.
With 10 team changes, the French were far more resolute in Melbourne than they were in Brisbane and took the Wallabies right to the 80th minute to see out a hard-fought victory.
That’s what I want us to be - a team for all occasions, to be a team for all seasons
While the Wallabies are enjoying their best winning run for nine years with six consecutive victories, Saturday's loss means France have yet to win in Australia for 24 years and have one last chance for victory in this weekend's final test in Sydney.
Saturday's winning scoreline was Australia's lowest since they beat Ireland 5-3 in Dublin in 1927, but McKenzie said there were benefits to the try-less performance after posting seven tries against the French the previous week.
"Ideally you want a team who can cope with all circumstances, and the All Blacks have always done that," McKenzie said.
