Australia lucky to beat France
From correspondents in Toulouse
November 22, 2004
France 30 Australia 52
AUSTRALIA captain Darren Lockyer made a successful return from a rib injury but his comeback was overshadowed by a heroic performance from France in their rugby league tour match today.
Lockyer, making his return after a four-week absence, played 53 minutes as Australia won 52-30 at Stade Ernest Wallon.
And the Kangaroos had Lockyer to thank for their victory.
The classy five-eighth was the difference as France threatened to pull off the biggest upset in rugby league history.
The final scoreline flattered the tourists, who scored three tries in the game's final five minutes.
But for Lockyer who knows what would have happened as the part-time French players produced an amazing display.
Australia was forced to come back from a 16-6 deficit midway through the opening half to take a 28-16 lead into the break.
The French stunned the tourists with prop Adel Fellous, impressive second rower Jamal Fakir and five-eighth Maxime Greseque scoring tries.
Jason Ryles managed Australia's sole reply and France led 16-6.
Then Lockyer put the foot on the accelerator.
After Matt Cooper crossed in the 26th minute, Lockyer threw a cut-out pass for Craig Fitzgibbon's try and converted to level the scores three minutes later.
With four minutes remaining in the half Lockyer combined with Brent Tate twice to give Australia a handy 12-point halftime lead.
The Kangaroos returned from halftime and were immediately on the back foot with French winger Frederic Zitter scoring in the 48th minute following a catastrophic mix-up between Matt Bowen and Cooper.
Zitter only had to pick up the ball after the Australians had bungled a Greseque bomb.
Virtually from the kick-off Tonie Carroll seized on a French mistake to score and make it 34-20 but France refused to wilt.
Zitter scored his second in the 62nd minute to narrow the gap to 10 points and centre Damien Couturier raced 50 metres in the 67th minute to set up a thrilling finale.
But French resistance faded as the final minutes wound down with Petero Civoniceva, Fitzgibbon and Ben Kennedy scoring.
FRANCE 30 (F Zitter 2 A Fellous J Fakir M Greseque D Couturier tries, M Greseque 3 goals).
AUSTRALIA 52 (C Fitzgibbon 2 J Ryles M Cooper B Tate D Lockyer T Carroll P Civoniceva B Kennedy tries, D Lockyer 4 C Fitzgibbon 4 goals)
At Stade Ernest Wellon (Toulouse).
Referee: K Kirkpatrick.
