Brisbane (Australia) (AFP)

Amazing but crestfallen, the XV of France fell arms in hand 33 to 30 in a stifling match, the third and last match of the series against the Wallabies, Saturday in Brisbane.

After tripping over the carpet (23-21) on July 7 and getting up a week later (28-26), the Blues therefore once again narrowly fell, making a cross on their first victorious tour of Australia since 1972.

The last time France returned from the Southern Hemisphere with two victories was in 1994 and successes 22-8 and 23-20 in New Zealand.

Saturday, in Brisbane, the Blues have therefore touched the feat, in the absence of executives, remained in France, injured or at rest.

The Blues of 2021, deprived of Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Grégory Alldritt, Charles Ollivon or Gaël Fickou, could not join Armand Vaquerin, Jean-Claude Skrela, Jo Maso or Pierre Villepreux, the last French winners of a tour in Australia, 49 years ago (draw 14-14 and win 16-15).

Since then, the Blues have broken their teeth "Down Under" in 1981, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2014.

Frustrating.

Because the men of Fabien Galthié had, it seems, the qualities to dominate the Wallabies, reduced to fourteen after five minutes of play after the red card collected by the winger of the Wallabies Marika Koroibete, for a high tackle on the captain of the Blues Anthony Jelonch.

- Puzzle for Galthié -

The French have resources, like the back of Perpignan Melvyn Jaminet, zero minutes in Top 14 but 15 points at the foot (6 out of 7), or the third row Cameron Woki, author of a globe test trotter (36th), jumping over the Australian grouping.

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They could (should?) Have given themselves a little air in the face of unimaginative Wallabies.

But this XV of France likes to play with fire: the last two oppositions against Australia had changed in the last minute.

The third was played in the last ten, in a duel between Lolesio (two penalties 73rd, 79th) and Jaminet (a penalty 74th).

Before the Blues, confident, try to play the last penalty of the match by hand.

In vain.

Fatigue, no doubt.

Since six players (Jaminet, Penaud, Vincent, Couilloud, Jelonch and Barlot) have tripled, playing the three matches of the tour.

Lack of experience too.

With 22 neophytes at the start of the tour and only three players with more than 20 selections (Damian Penaud, Teddy Thomas, Romain Taofifenua), Fabien Galthié's men had come to Australia to learn.

Before taking off, the manager of the Blues Raphaël Ibanez had also called for "a tour of revelations".

He was heard.

And almost more.

© 2021 AFP