The Wallabies used their get out of jail card in their first outing of 2021.
But it definitely wasn't a free one.
The French were the only team playing Test rugby for much of the first half and it took some clear changes in tactics and personnel to allow the Wallabies to overcome the 15 point deficit they faced after a quarter of the match.
Test rugby is not Super Rugby.
Mistakes and inaccuracies are punished… severely.
Set piece is either a decisive weapon or an Achilles heel.
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That's the overriding lesson from this game for the Australians – excellent core skills and set piece coupled with effective game management are the minimum standards required.
The encouraging thing is that is in line with Dave Rennie's reaction to both the first half and the match as a whole.
The key will be him not needing to remind his team at halftime in the future.
Early on, the Wallabies back three seemed intent on running the ball back at France and it was to their own detriment.
France were keen to play minimum phases in their own territory, kick the ball to Tom Banks and back their defence.
Early errors were punished and France – who entered the Wallabies 22 only twice in the first half and for less than 40 seconds in total – were able to score 15 unanswered points.
This, combined with high line speed in defence, with a focus on getting midfield players up in the eyeline of Wallaby playmakers, especially Noah Lolesio, and numerically efficient pressure at the breakdown was France's effective game plan.
But a by-product of the high line speed, as well as tightheads Taniela Tupou and Allan Alaalatoa's excellent scrum work, was a lopsided and eventually game deciding penalty count in Australia's favour.
There are some key work-ons for the Wallabies in their short six day back up into the second Test of the series in Melbourne on Tuesday.
– Urgency to and efficiency at attacking breakdown –
France beat Australia to the punch through significant parts of the game in the first Test.
When Australia did it well they looked dangerous and that is where much of the attacking possibility lies.
With deception, bodies in motion and inside ball options there is opportunity for linebreaks and offloading in behind French defenders in the next two Tests.
Efficiency of numbers is also crucial though.
In the 2016 three Test series against England, Australia was similarly troubled by England applying pressure at the defensive breakdown.
The Wallabies reacted by committing more numbers in the second Test as England this time cleverly fanned out and under-committed.
The Wallabies can't be reactionary but will be exciting to watch with more consistently fast ball.
– Kick quality –
Those that yelled "stop kicking the ball away" at their TV would do well to look at the context and results of some of the Wallabies kicking.
From Noah Lolesio's 11th minute right hand side grubber that provided the field position for Hunter Paisami's almost try to Paisami's 78th minute left foot kick under pressure that found grass and resulted in a lineout attack opportunity – kicks were Australia's best try-scoring possession source.
I love running rugby more than most but the Wallabies need to kick better, not less.
While we analyse the content we must also acknowledge the effort and will of this Wallabies team.
Test rugby is about winning, and the habit of winning.
This team found a way against a courageous and combative France.
The indefatigable Michael Hooper.
The scrum and maul work of the starting front row.
The entry and impact of Taniela Tupou, Tate McDermott, Darcy Swain and Lachlan Lonergan were all important.
The final chaotic moments may well be the best insight of all into this Wallaby group.
The lineout pressure in the air after the siren.
The effort of Tupou.
The tactical awareness and clarity of thought of McDermott to make a beeline for the sideline instead of chasing the ball infield was the deciding action of the night.
He knew that a French victory lay in the ability of France to get the ball over that sideline.
And then once the opportunity was earned there was composure and patience in the way the Wallabies earned the two penalty advantages that provided victory.
Test rugby is about winning moments.
The Wallabies need to win more moments as this 2021 Test season unfolds but whatever improvements they need to make they won the moment that counted in this one.
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