MATT GITEAU illuminated a record victory for the Wallabies over France that easily surpassed their 35-12 win in the 1999 World Cup final, but will not necessarily fill them with confidence a fortnight ahead of their TriNations opener against South Africa in Perth.

Giteau’s sharp handling and quick feet were central to all four Wallaby tries, added to which he confirmed his status as a Test-class place-kicker with a return of eight from eight. In the space of three Tests, he has also forged an impressive understanding with Luke Burgess, another star in the making. Robbie Deans, the new Wallaby coach, will take pleasure from a bright cameo off the bench from Ryan Cross, whose strength at outside-centre earned him two second-half tries. The Wallabies also defended well, with Phil Waugh proving beyond any doubt that he is now their first-choice openside.

Deans was surely less impressed by winger Lachlan Turner, whose hands let him down on a couple of occasions, while his options in the back three may have been reduced by injury to Cameron Shepherd, who was stretchered off at the end. Beyond that, it was hard to take too much significance from a game that was watery fare. No surprise in this — for the French had presented another watered-down team, with seven changes from the side that lost last week and a back line with the combined Test experience of 13 caps. When Francois Trinh-Duc, a relative veteran with six appearances, chose to have an off-day, they really were struggling.

Old warriors like Lionel Nallet and Sebastien Chabal battled gamely, while tight-head Pierre Correia caused considerable damage on Australia’s put-in but in general, the French were embarrassing. One of the anomalies of the contest was that they won the possession stakes hands-down, at least until the

final quarter. All told, this was not an occasion that promoted the cause of these June Tests

between northern and southern hemispheres.

Australia led 26-3 at the break, with Giteau central to all they did well. Apart from his four penalties, there was an exquisite cross-kick on seven minutes which, together with France’s naive defence out wide, allowed Peter Hynes to gather and score without breaking stride. At the other end of the half, Giteau rescued an aborted back-line move by pirouetting through a tackle and then finding James Horwill with a one-handed flick behind his back. Horwill made the most of the opening with an extravagant dive to the right of the posts.

Horwill looked less impressive a couple of minutes later with his left eye shut, courtesy of a punch by Imanol Harinordoquy as the French finally lost their temper. The brief flurry of fists was about the most impressive passage they’d produced all half, despite having 60% possession. On the rare occasions they engineered decent attacking platforms, the handling of their midfielders was execrable.

One of those opportunities came in stoppage time at the end of the half, at which stage skipper Nallet was happy to put three points on the board with a Trinh-Duc penalty.

To have any hope of stretching their hosts, France had to make something of a brief period on the attack after the break and Benjamin Boyet’s arrival off the bench improved the chances of that happening, but Trinh-Duc spoiled a promising move with a badly over-hit cross-kick and any pressure on the Wallabies was lifted. Having defended for 15 minutes, Australia knocked their first attacking penalty of the half into the corner and this paid dividends almost immediately. With Rocky Elsom providing off-the-top ball, one flat pass from Giteau and a sharp sidestep by Cross was enough to expose Trinh-Duc’s defence as a makeshift outside-centre.

The same formula worked again in the 68th minute and briefly, it looked like the Australians might run wild. Instead, the French clung on grimly and were rewarded when Trinh-Duc finished off a counter- attack and then converted the try for the final act of what was, barring Giteau’s brilliance, a forgettable game.

Star man: Matt Giteau (Australia)

Tries: Australia Hynes, Horwill, Cross 2 France Trinh-Duc

Cons: Australia Giteau 4 France Yachvili

Pens: Australia Giteau 4

France Trinh-Duc

Referee: P Honiss (New Zealand)

Australia: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, S Mortlock (capt, C Shepherd 73min)), B Barnes (R Cross 53min), L Turner; M Giteau, L Burgess (S Cordingley 28-33min, 74min); B Robinson (B Alexander 61min), S Moore (A Freier 74min), A Baxter, J Horwill (H McMeniman 39min), N Sharpe, R Elsom, S Hoiles (G Smith 51min), P Waugh.

France: B Thiery; A Palisson, M Mermoz (B Boyet 41min), T Lacroix, D Janin; F Trinh-Duc, S Tillous-Borde (D Yachvili 76min); P Correia (B Lecouls 51min), S Bruno (B Kayser 61min), R Boyoud, S Chabal (Y Caballero 73min), L Nallet (capt), M Lievremont, I Harinordoquy, F Ouedraogo (L Picamoles 57min).