![\"Lolesio](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/07\/368596\/pickerImage.jpg\")
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Tate McDermott pounced on the loose ball and the rest is history – only not for France.<\/p>\n
The Wallabies pack ground away and Noah Lolesio made amends for a missed drop goal minutes earlier by slotting the winning penalty from right in front.<\/p>\n
Australia 23, France 20 in the first of three Test matches in 11 days.<\/p>\n
"It was amazing, wasn't it," Wallabies legend David Campese said on Stan Sport.<\/p>\n
"I've never seen a French team at the end there, just panic, just throwing the ball backward."<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> How Andrew Mehrtens saw the action unfold<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> France try stands after suspected forward pass<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Wallabies star tears up in emotional interview<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens was equally dumbfounded.<\/p>\n France led 15-0 at one stage and the knives were sharpening in the direction of a Wallabies side that won just one Test last year.<\/p>\n "Amazing drama and the French will be kicking themselves because they'll think they had it," Mehrtens said.<\/p>\n Get your tickets now for the Wallabies Test series against France!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n "The French only needed to kick the ball out.<\/p>\n "The one team in world rugby that knows how to run the clock down.<\/p>\n "They can often do it from eight, nine minutes out, where they just play in close.<\/p>\n "I'm very surprised, firstly, that they kicked it away a couple of times to the Wallabies and secondly that last mistake."<\/p>\n France captain Anthony Jelonch said his team was "very frustrated."<\/p>\n "Even if the game is not perfect tonight, we can win it," Jelonch said.<\/p>\n "And even we have to earn it. Tonight we missed that last minute once again."<\/p>\n It was a bitter way for Jaminet's bright debut to end.<\/p>\n "It's hard to accept because the end is cruel," Jaminet said.<\/p>\n "Despite everything, this first time with the jersey was incredible but the end still hurts the head. We missed a minute to have a perfect evening."<\/p>\n Winger Gabin Villiere had got France off to a flier with tries in the fifth and 21st minutes.<\/p>\n The Wallabies were making far too many mistakes but never let the tourists get away from them.<\/p>\n Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa drove over from a Dan McKellar maul special and then Wallabies captain Michael Hooper rose to the occasion with a crucial try with 10 to play.<\/p>\n But there were far too many misfires and the Wallabies would probably have been soundly beaten by a full strength French team.<\/p>\n Australia found themselves ruing a botched try when winger Tom Wright failed to capitalise in the in-goal in the 55th minute.<\/p>\n Centre Hunter Paisami threaded a beautiful grubber towards the posts from the right edge, and while Wright steamed through to put himself in perfect position to dot down, he couldn't get hold of the footy.<\/p>\n Admittedly, Wright was cruelled by a wicked bounce.<\/p>\n "Staring at the ball, wanting it to be an easy ball so he can just dive on it and it pops up hard at him," former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said on Nine's coverage.<\/p>\n Wallabies legend Tim Horan was full of praise for Paisami's deft kick.<\/p>\n "What a kick from Hunter Paisami," Horan said.<\/p>\n "He only had a two players to his left.<\/p>\n "Great option from the Wallabies to continue this pressure deep into the French territory."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Wallabies](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/07\/368598\/pickerImage.jpg\")
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![\"France](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/07\/368588\/pickerImage.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"Wright](\"https:\/\/vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/2021\/07\/368593\/pickerImage.jpg\")
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