France beat the Wallaroos 29–26 in a dramatic WXV match on September 19, 2026. The hosts fought back from 19–0 down at Stade Maurice-David in Aix-en-Provence and won through a late Teani Feleu try.
Australia scored four tries and led at half-time. However, France crossed the line five times to complete the comeback. The final gap was just three points, leaving the Wallaroos with a narrow defeat after a strong start.
France vs Wallaroos: Result at a Glance
| Detail | Match information |
|---|---|
| Final score | France 29–26 Australia |
| Half-time score | France 12–19 Australia |
| Date | September 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Stade Maurice-David, Aix-en-Provence |
| Competition | WXV |
| Tries | France 5, Australia 4 |
The venue and fixture details appear on the official World Rugby match page.
Australia Builds a 19–0 Lead
The Wallaroos made the early running. Tries from Tania Naden and Caitlyn Halse followed Australia’s opening score, giving the visitors a 19–0 lead. France also faced pressure from cards that reduced the number of players on the field.
Yet the home side found a way back before the break. Two French tries cut the gap to seven points. As a result, Australia went into half-time ahead 19–12, with the match still open.
For the full account of the opening half, see Rugby Australia’s match report.
France Turns the Wallaroos Match Around
Piper Duck scored after the break, and Australia’s lead grew to 26–12. At that stage, France needed more than a single converted try to draw level.
First, Pauline Bourdon Sansus scored to bring the hosts closer. Then Elisa Riffonneau added another try. A successful conversion left France only two points behind at 26–24.
Finally, Feleu crossed in the 74th minute. Her try put France ahead 29–26. Australia could not find another score before the finish, so the hosts held on.
The scoring sequence is recorded in Rugby Australia’s live match updates.
Why Five Tries Made the Difference
In rugby union, a try earns five points. The scoring team then gets a conversion kick worth two more. France scored five tries and two conversions, which added up to 29 points.
Meanwhile, Australia scored four tries and three conversions for 26. The Wallaroos earned more points from conversion kicks, but France’s extra try was enough to decide the result.
What the Result Shows
The score tells two parts of the story. Australia built a large early lead and moved further ahead after the break. France, however, kept reducing the gap until one late score changed the winner.
For readers new to the sport, this was a clear example of how quickly a rugby match can turn. A team can recover a large deficit through a run of tries, even when the earlier score looks one-sided.
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