Australia face France knowing another defeat would seal their first winless end-of-year tour in almost 70 years.
Saturday’s bruising 46-19 defeat to Ireland in Dublin made it three losses on the bounce following earlier setbacks against England at Twickenham and Italy in Udine.
Should Joe Schmidt’s men fall in Paris on Saturday, it will mark the first time since 1958 that any Wallabies side has suffered four consecutive defeats on a northern hemisphere tour.
It caps an attritional year for Australia, who have now lost nine of 14 Tests since July. Fatigue has been suggested as a factor in their limp European form, but Schmidt quickly shut down that narrative.
“Tiredness isn’t an excuse,” the coach insisted. “We have to deliver an 80-minute performance. Our execution wasn’t good enough, and we know France will bring the same pressure.”
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A glaring area of concern is the aerial battle, with Australia losing 16 high-ball contests against Ireland and misfiring at the lineout, conceding six of their own throws. Captain Harry Wilson admitted the set piece issues proved costly.
“When the heart of your set piece isn’t functioning, the whole team feels it,” he said.
Fixing that will be essential if the Wallabies hope to avoid a historic low in Paris.
Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
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