The Wallabies have warned their Tri-Nations rivals that they are the team to beat after bashing Les Bleus in Sydney.

Having seen off both the Barbarians and Italy over the last few weeks the hosts were keen to beat much better opposition and lay down a marker with their Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks in Auckland just three weeks away. And they did just that, keeping the French - who were fresh off an impressive drawn series with the world No.1 side in New Zealand - tryless to maintain their 18-year domination of the visitors on home soil. And skipper Stirling Mortlock claims the impressive win proves his side are the form team going into the Tri-Nations.

He said: “It’s a good start to the season, a good base going into the Tri-Nations. “I think our intensity and the energy levels of the guys to get off the deck and reload and just get in there and work together was just fantastic.”

Mortlock also praised his players’ efforts but added that he knows the team can get even better.

“It was good tonight - the scrum and the lineout. “So we were very pleased with some aspects of the game - it was pretty intense at the breakdown too - but I know we can improve on that. “The effort in the defence was great,” Mortlock added.

Star stand-off Matt Giteau scored all the Wallabies points with a try, five penalties and a conversion from all his kicks at goal as the Wallabies dominated the second half after leading 10-3 at half-time.

Australia almost scored in the second minute when winger Drew Mitchell dived for the corner but the video referee ruled that he lost the ball over the try-line.

Both sides attacked in a free-flowing opening before the hosts scored the only try of the clash in the 17th minute. Giteau’s long pass put Mortlock into space and Lachlan Turner and Berrick Barnes carried on the move before Giteau backed up on the outside to cross unopposed.

Lionel Beauxis finally got France on the scoreboard by kicking a? 21st-minute penalty.

But that was cancelled out when Giteau landed another six minutes later to give the Wallabies a seven-point half-time advantage.

Maxime Mermoz almost gave Les Bleus a flying start to the second half when he set sail for the try-line off an intercept but was called back by the referee for offside and Giteau landed his third kick for a 13-3 lead. Giteau stretched that Wallabies lead to 16-3 with another penalty.

The French continued to pay for their ill-discipline with replacement prop Nicolas Mas penalised for off-side and Giteau kicked the Wallabies to a 22-3 lead after 57 minutes.

Les Bleus registered their first points for 40 minutes when scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili kicked his team’s second, and final penalty with 19 minutes left.

Sorce:http://www.7days.ae

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