Playmaker Kurtley Beale admits frustration at the Wallabies’ inability to score tries but says it’s not for lack of trying.
Australia’s lean tryscoring run continued against France with the Wallabies unable to cross the stripe for a second consecutive Test as they were whalloped 33-6 by France at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
The Wallabies have scored just 12 tries in 12 Tests this season, coming into the match off a tryless 18-18 draw with New Zealand but Beale said the lean run wasn’t through a lack of effort to be enterprising.
“It is frustrating because we’re working hard and attempting to play an expansive game,” Beale said. “We had a crack tonight.
“They did their homework and they knew what was coming and did a good job at closing up the gaps and the French deserve credit for that.
“We can probably learn a bit from the way they made the most of their opportunities. They made the most of every situation and deserved the win.”
Beale was disappointed with some of his option taking during the three-tries-to-none loss.
“I’ll take a bit of ownership myself. We could have played a bit more field position,” he said.
“We have to be smarter about how we play.”
The Melbourne Rebel credited his opposite number, man of the match Frederic Michalak, for an outstanding performance.
“Michalak did a good job tonight controlling the game and that came because his forwards gave him a really good platform to play off,” Beale said.
Adam Ashley-Cooper was held up over the line in the dying minutes but that was as close as the Wallabies came to scoring.
Explosive winger Digby Ioane, the man who scored Australia’s last Test try in the win over Argentina last month, is set to make his return against England at Twickenham next weekend.