30 second-half points has powered France to a 42-26 win over the Wallabies in Brisbane.
The result sees the visitors retain the Trophée des Bicentenaires and secure their fourth straight win over the Wallabies; marking the first time Les Bleus have achieved such a feat since 1967, and also marking their first-ever win at Suncorp Stadium.
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"We're gutted. Another good first half, but we have to be able to go out and deliver a second half that's as worthy as the first 40 minutes," Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said post-game.
"I think there was a couple of really big turning points...In the wash up, we just know we have to get a win next week. It's as simple as that."
The visitors started well, winning the kick-off and then being awarded a penalty for a high Josh Canham tackle, with Emmanuel Meafou coming up with the opening try, barging over four Wallabies to score in the 3rd minute.
The French physicality looked ominous; however, an overzealous cleanout gave the Wallabies a chance to reply in the 11th minute - one that Brendan Paenga-Amosa, fresh to the field for Josh Nasser (HIA), benefitted from off a trick lineout move, drawing the Wallabies back level.
The score proved to lift the hosts, the Wallabies getting little ball but surviving several waves of French attack - until Romain Ntamack kicked ahead in the 18th minute, allowing debutant Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang to score in the corner.
The hosts were undeterred, however, and after a brilliant Tom Wright kick that saw them earn a 50/22, Meafou then found himself in the bin for a high shot on Rob Valetini.
The Wallabies capitalised immediately, a tap-and-go seeing Fraser McReight barge over in the 27th minute, Ryan Lonergan converting to give the hosts the lead for the first time.
The French made consecutive errors off the restart, the hosts earning a penalty off the scrum and then capitalising through another strong kick to Tom Wright.
On the eve of Meafou's return, the hosts turned to the maul in the 34th minute, capitalising on the advantage with McReight nabbing his second of the night to extend the lead.
As halftime approached, fatigue set in during a massive passage of play that saw the sides play close to five minutes of uninterrupted play, the French finally getting a penalty in the final minute and going to the corner.
In the end, the hosts were penalised for obstruction off the maul short of the try line, allowing the hosts to take a 21-12 lead going into halftime.
The French tried to reactivate their physicality, but several early steals by McReight frustrated the visitors - until a Jorgensen tackle was brought back, the French pointing to the sticks and Lucu not missing to cut the margin to six.
It proved to be the score that saw the French spring into life.
At the 50th minute, the visitors found their third try through Grandidier-Nkanang, cutting the margin to one point with Lucu missing the conversion, with Wright sent to the bin for a late shot.
The injection of subs proved effective for France, Romain Ntamack regaining the lead three minutes later through a brilliant read down the blindside, before Florian Verhaeghe barged over under the sticks to give the visitors a 13-point lead just shy of the hour mark.
The French were on fire, and Theo Attissogbe would’ve had their sixth try if not for a forward pass with the line begging. The Wallabies scrum kept them in the match before an obstruction saw the French point to the sticks, Lucu taking the penalty to extend the margin.
It took until the final 15 minutes for the Wallabies to finally get some possession, the French defence surviving 16 phases and two long-range attacks to not concede any points, proving critical plays to stifle any fightback as the final ten minutes began.
With the hosts' mistakes adding to the pressure, the French pounced in the 72nd minute with a long-range effort, Attissogbe finally getting a try to see the visitors take their second-half tally to 30 points.
A try to Williams in the 77th minute provided a consolation for the hosts, but it was all the side could muster as the French claimed a maiden win at Suncorp Stadium.
Wallabies 26 (Tries: Paenga-Amosa, McReight 2, Williams. Cons: R. Lonergan 3/3, Campbell 0/1) def by France 42 (Tries: Meafou, Grandidier-Nkanang 2, Ntamack, Verhaeghe, Attissogbe. Cons: Lucu 3/5, Le Garrec 0/1, Pens: Lucu 2/2)
