Bill goes back to Oz

Australia beats France 35-12 in World Cup final

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Posted: Saturday November 06, 1999 01:26 PM

Australian fullback Matt Burke kicked the goal to make the score 3-3 after four minutes. Adam Pretty/Allsport

CARDIFF, Wales (Reuters) -- Flyhalf Christophe Lamaison put France 3-0 ahead with a penalty in the second minute of the World Cup final against Australia on Saturday.

France kicked off and was awarded a penalty within 40 seconds when Australia dived over the top in a ruck about 35 meters from its own posts.

Lamaison kicked the goal from out on the right. Australia kicked off and won a scrum inside the France half.

French center Richard Dourthe was offside as Wallaby scrumhalf George Gregan was caught in possession.

Australian fullback Matt Burke kicked the goal to make the score 3-3 after four minutes.

A break by Australia center Daniel Herbert saw him feed winger Joe Roff who was pulled down about 10 meters from the French line but a French defender was offside.

A brawl broke out between the players of both sides after a penalty was awarded to Australia. Referee Andre Watson called together the two captains to lay down the law and French lock Fabien Pelous was shown the yellow card.

Burke missed the penalty kick.

Both sides were nervous on a greasy pitch and Australian flyhalf Stephen Larkham missed touch with his first two kicks.

Australian captain John Eales was shown a yellow card, apparently for throwing a punch, and Lamaison put France 6-3 ahead with a fine penalty kick after 12 minutes.

Australian centre Tim Horan cut through the French defense and a series of surges took the Wallabies to within 10 metres of the line. But France stopped clean ball and eventually a penalty was awarded in front of the posts.

Referee Watson warned the French about committing professional fouls before Burke kicked the goal to make it 6-6.

France won a penalty immediately after the kick-off and kicked for position rather than for goal.

From a ruck Lamaison kicked high to the corner and winger Christophe Dominici knocked the ball back for lock Abdel Benazzi to plunge over. But Dominici had knocked the ball forward.

Horan again threatened to break through but good French defense drove number eight Toutai Kefu back twice in quick succession as he was fed the ball on the burst.

Watson again demanded more discipline from the players after Australian hooker Michael Foley was penalized for dangerous play.

France were repeating their mistake of giving away too many penalties early on, as they did in their shock semifinal defeat of New Zealand.

Flanker Marc Lievremont was penalized in a ruck and Burke had a simple kick from 35 meters out which he duly converted. Australia led for the first time, 9-6.

After a scrappy spell of play, Australia's backline began to flow for the first time, sweeping the ball across the field but failing to break through.

The Wallabies had a big overlap on the right but a French defender managed to get a hand on to a vital pass, but the French gave away another penalty about 30 meters out.

Burke missed the kick.

Lamaison kicked ahead and winger Philippe Bernat-Salles was narrowly beaten to the ball by Larkham who pushed it into touch.

From the throw-in Dourthe surged towards the line, aided by his forwards. But the Australian defense gathered as the line beckoned and Dourthe was pushed back, earning Australia the ball at the scrum.

As halftime beckoned, a sizzling run by Dominici opened up a stretched Australian defense and the winger fed fullback Xavier Garbajosa who was bundled into touch by the final Wallaby defender.

France gave away another penalty at a ruck when they prevented Australia from winning quick ball. Burke kicked the goal from 30 meters in the fourth minute of injury time to put the 1991 champions 12-6 ahead.

A streaker ran on to the pitch as Australia prepared to kick off the second half. Australia was penalized after 70 seconds for holding on in a ruck, giving Lamaison a kick at goal just inside the Wallaby half.

The French flyhalf kicked it wide of the right post.

Larkham burst through the French defense about 10 meters out with a weaving run and was hauled down by a high tackle by Benazzi. Burke kicked over from 15 meters to put Australia 15-6 ahead after 46 minutes.

Herbert was replaced because of a damaged knee by Jason Little, a winger who began alongside Horan in the center as a schoolboy. Lamaison missed a drop goal attempt.

An Australian hand in the ruck as France attacked through a punching run by Benazzi gave Lamaison a kick at goal.

He put the first French points on the board since they led 6-3 after 12 minutes of the first half to make the score 15-9 after 52 minutes.

A series of Australian attacks inside the French 22 ended with Larkham setting Roff free in a switchback move and the winger ran 15 meters before being tackled on the line.

As Roff tried to put the ball down, it squirted free and a knock-on was given to France.

After regaining possession, Australia were given a kick in front of the French posts as France held on to the ball at a ruck. Burke kicked his sixth penalty to put Australia 18-9 ahead after 58 minutes.

Lamaison kicked France back to 18-12 with a penalty, his fourth of the match.

Gregan was hit in the face by Lamaison's attempted tackle as the scrumhalf cut back inside on a run, and Watson awarded Australia a penalty about 40 meters from the French posts.

Burke was again successful to put Australia 21-12 ahead.

Finally the try drought ended. Breaks by Horan and Gregan put Australia through about 10 meters from the line and Ben Tune grounded the ball in the corner for the first try of the game as French defenders hurled themselves at the winger.

Burke converted from the touchline to put Australia apparently out of sight at 28-12. Garbajosa was taken off with a badly damaged right arm after he failed to keep Tune out.

France threw everything into attack and earned a penalty within kickable range as Australia killed the ball.

The French kicked into touch five meters from the Australian line but Australia won the ball in the line-out from the French throw.

Australia appeared content to see the rest of the game out and France were tiring after their heroic efforts against New Zealand six days previously.

Australian replacement lock Owen Finegan sealed victory by piling over from 20 meters after a reverse pass from Gregan split the French backline. Burke converted to take his points total to 25.

 

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