2021 France rugby union tour of Australia

In July 2021, France played a three-test series against Australia as part of the 2021 July International window.^[1] The series was played in a condensed window of 11 days, due to French club commitments and a Covid-19 hotel quarantine period for the visitors.^[2] This was France's first tour to Australia since 2014 and their first encounter since November 2016.

2021 France rugby union tour of Australia
Coach(es)	Fabien Galthié
Tour captain(s)	Anthony Jelonch
Summary	P W D L
Total	03 01 00 02
Test match	03 01 00 02
Opponent	P W D L
Australia	3 1 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour	New Zealand 2018
Next tour	Japan 2022

Fixtures

Date	Venue	Home	Score	Away
7 July 2021	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[a]	Australia	23–21	France
13 July 2021	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne	Australia	26–28	France
17 July 2021	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane	Australia	33–30	France

Squads

Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 7 July, the first test match of the tour.

France

On 20 June 2021, Galthié named a 42-man squad for France's three-test series against Australia.^[4]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Fabien Galthié
• Forwards coach: William Servat
• Backs coach: Laurent Labit
• Defence coach: Shaun Edwards

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Gaëtan Barlot	Hooker	(1997-04-13)13 April 1997 (aged 24)	0	Castres
Anthony Étrillard	Hooker	(1993-03-21)21 March 1993 (aged 28)	0	Toulon
Etienne Fourcade	Hooker	(1997-04-11)11 April 1997 (aged 24)	0	Clermont
Demba Bamba	Prop	(1998-03-17)17 March 1998 (aged 23)	14	Lyon
Sipili Falatea	Prop	(1997-06-06)6 June 1997 (aged 24)	0	Clermont
Enzo Forletta	Prop	(1997-06-06)6 June 1997 (aged 24)	0	Montpellier
Jean-Baptiste Gros	Prop	(1999-05-29)29 May 1999 (aged 22)	9	Toulon
Wilfrid Hounkpatin	Prop	(1991-07-29)29 July 1991 (aged 29)	0	Castres
Quentin Walcker	Prop	(1996-02-21)21 February 1996 (aged 25)	0	Perpignan
Pierre-Henri Azagoh	Lock	(1998-05-27)27 May 1998 (aged 23)	0	Stade Français
Cyril Cazeaux	Lock	(1995-02-10)10 February 1995 (aged 26)	2	Bordeaux
Kilian Geraci	Lock	(1999-03-25)25 March 1999 (aged 22)	2	Lyon
Romain Taofifénua	Lock	(1990-09-14)14 September 1990 (aged 30)	25	Toulon
Florent Vanverberghe	Lock	(2000-07-22)22 July 2000 (aged 20)	0	Castres
Alexandre Bécognée	Back row	(1996-09-03)3 September 1996 (aged 24)	0	Montpellier
Dylan Cretin	Back row	(1997-05-04)4 May 1997 (aged 24)	10	Lyon
Ibrahim Diallo	Back row	(1998-01-23)23 January 1998 (aged 23)	0	Racing 92
Alexandre Fischer	Back row	(1998-01-19)19 January 1998 (aged 23)	0	Clermont
Anthony Jelonch (c)	Back row	(1996-07-28)28 July 1996 (aged 24)	8	Castres
Sekou Macalou	Back row	(1995-04-20)20 April 1995 (aged 26)	4	Stade Français
Baptiste Pesenti	Back row	(1997-07-03)3 July 1997 (aged 24)	2	Pau
Patrick Sobela	Back row	(1992-08-12)12 August 1992 (aged 28)	0	Lyon
Cameron Woki	Back row	(1998-11-07)7 November 1998 (aged 22)	5	Bordeaux
Baptiste Couilloud	Scrum-half	(1997-07-22)22 July 1997 (aged 23)	5	Lyon
Teddy Iribaren	Scrum-half	(1990-09-25)25 September 1990 (aged 30)	0	Racing 92
Clovis Le Bail	Scrum-half	(1995-11-20)20 November 1995 (aged 25)	0	Pau
Louis Carbonel	Fly-half	(1999-02-04)4 February 1999 (aged 22)	3	Toulon
Antoine Hastoy	Fly-half	(1997-06-04)4 June 1997 (aged 24)	0	Pau
Joris Segonds	Fly-half	(1997-04-06)6 April 1997 (aged 24)	0	Stade Français
Pierre-Louis Barassi	Centre	(1998-04-22)22 April 1998 (aged 23)	2	Lyon
Jonathan Danty	Centre	(1992-10-07)7 October 1992 (aged 28)	6	Stade Français
Julien Hériteau	Centre	(1994-01-12)12 January 1994 (aged 27)	0	Toulon
Tani Vili	Centre	(2000-10-31)31 October 2000 (aged 20)	0	Clermont
Arthur Vincent	Centre	(1999-09-30)30 September 1999 (aged 21)	11	Montpellier
Gervais Cordin	Wing	(1998-12-10)10 December 1998 (aged 22)	0	Toulon
Damian Penaud	Wing	(1996-09-25)25 September 1996 (aged 24)	22	Clermont
Alivereti Raka	Wing	(1994-12-09)9 December 1994 (aged 26)	5	Clermont
Teddy Thomas	Wing	(1993-09-18)18 September 1993 (aged 27)	27	Racing 92
Gabin Villière	Wing	(1995-12-13)13 December 1995 (aged 25)	4	Toulon
Anthony Bouthier	Fullback	(1992-06-19)19 June 1992 (aged 29)	6	Montpellier
Romain Buros	Fullback	(1997-07-31)31 July 1997 (aged 23)	0	Bordeaux
Melvyn Jaminet	Fullback	(1999-06-30)30 June 1999 (aged 22)	0	Perpignan

Australia

A 38-man Wallabies squad was named for the 2021 series against France on 13 June 2021.^[5]

Coaching team:

• Head coach: Dave Rennie
• Forwards coach: Dan McKellar
• Backs coach: Scott Wisemantel
• Defence coach: Matt Taylor

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Feleti Kaitu'u	Hooker	(1994-12-30)30 December 1994 (aged 26)	0	Force
Lachlan Lonergan	Hooker	(1999-10-11)11 October 1999 (aged 21)	0	Brumbies
Brandon Paenga-Amosa	Hooker	(1995-12-25)25 December 1995 (aged 25)	9	Reds
Allan Alaalatoa	Prop	(1994-01-28)28 January 1994 (aged 27)	43	Brumbies
Angus Bell	Prop	(2000-04-10)10 April 2000 (aged 21)	3	Waratahs
Pone Fa'amausili	Prop	(1997-02-26)26 February 1997 (aged 24)	0	Rebels
Scott Sio	Prop	(1991-10-16)16 October 1991 (aged 29)	68	Brumbies
James Slipper	Prop	(1989-06-06)6 June 1989 (aged 32)	100	Brumbies
Taniela Tupou	Prop	(1996-05-10)10 May 1996 (aged 25)	25	Reds
Matt Philip	Lock	(1994-03-07)7 March 1994 (aged 27)	9	Unattached
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto	Lock	(1996-09-19)19 September 1996 (aged 24)	25	Reds
Darcy Swain	Lock	(1997-07-05)5 July 1997 (aged 24)	0	Brumbies
Sitaleki Timani	Lock	(1986-09-19)19 September 1986 (aged 34)	18	Force
Michael Hooper (c)	Back row	(1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 29)	105	Toyota Verblitz
Rob Leota	Back row	(1997-03-03)3 March 1997 (aged 24)	0	Rebels
Fraser McReight	Back row	(1999-02-19)19 February 1999 (aged 22)	1	Reds
Isi Naisarani	Back row	(1995-02-14)14 February 1995 (aged 26)	8	Rebels
Lachlan Swinton	Back row	(1997-01-16)16 January 1997 (aged 24)	1	Waratahs
Rob Valetini	Back row	(1998-09-03)3 September 1998 (aged 22)	4	Brumbies
Michael Wells	Back row	(1993-05-03)3 May 1993 (aged 28)	0	Rebels
Harry Wilson	Back row	(1999-11-22)22 November 1999 (aged 21)	6	Reds
Jake Gordon	Scrum-half	(1993-06-07)7 June 1993 (aged 28)	5	Waratahs
Tate McDermott	Scrum-half	(1998-09-18)18 September 1998 (aged 22)	2	Reds
Nic White	Scrum-half	(1990-06-13)13 June 1990 (aged 31)	37	Brumbies
Noah Lolesio	Fly-half	(1999-12-18)18 December 1999 (aged 21)	2	Brumbies
James O'Connor	Fly-half	(1990-07-05)5 July 1990 (aged 31)	55	Reds
Matt To'omua	Fly-half	(1990-01-02)2 January 1990 (aged 31)	54	Rebels
Lalakai Foketi	Centre	(1994-12-22)22 December 1994 (aged 26)	0	Waratahs
Reece Hodge	Centre	(1994-08-26)26 August 1994 (aged 26)	45	Rebels
Len Ikitau	Centre	(1998-10-01)1 October 1998 (aged 22)	0	Brumbies
Hunter Paisami	Centre	(1998-04-10)10 April 1998 (aged 23)	6	Reds
Izaia Perese	Centre	(1997-05-17)17 May 1997 (aged 24)	0	Waratahs
Filipo Daugunu	Wing	(1995-04-03)3 April 1995 (aged 26)	5	Reds
Andrew Kellaway	Wing	(1995-10-12)12 October 1995 (aged 25)	0	Rebels
Marika Koroibete	Wing	(1992-07-26)26 July 1992 (aged 28)	34	Rebels
Andy Muirhead	Wing	(1993-03-08)8 March 1993 (aged 28)	0	Brumbies
Tom Wright	Wing	(1997-07-21)21 July 1997 (aged 23)	3	Brumbies
Tom Banks	Fullback	(1994-06-18)18 June 1994 (aged 27)	11	Brumbies

Matches

First test

7 July 2021 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	23–21	France
Try: Paenga-Amosa 34' c Hooper 71' c Con: Lolesio (2/2) 36', 71' Pen: Lolesio (3/3) 44', 60', 80+4'	Report	Try: Villière (2) 6' m, 22' c Con: Carbonel (1/2) 24' Pen: Carbonel (2/2) 19', 52' Jaminet (1/1) 62'

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane [b][1] Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) [c]

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 Tom Wright  68' OC 13 Hunter Paisami IC 12 Matt To'omua LW 11 Marika Koroibete FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 Jake Gordon  60' N8 8 Harry Wilson  72' BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 Rob Valetini RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 Matt Philip  55' TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa  52' HK 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa  60' LP 1 James Slipper  63' Replacements: HK 16 Lachlan Lonergan  60' PR 17 Angus Bell  63' PR 18 Taniela Tupou  52' LK 19 Darcy Swain  55' N8 20 Isi Naisarani  72' SH 21 Tate McDermott  60' CE 22 Len Ikitau WG 23 Andrew Kellaway  68' Coach: Dave Rennie

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Arthur Vincent IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Louis Carbonel SH 9 Baptiste Couilloud  70' N8 8 Sekou Macalou  54' OF 7 Anthony Jelonch (c) BF 6 Dylan Cretin RL 5 Romain Taofifénua  52' LL 4 Kilian Geraci  58' TP 3 Demba Bamba  52' HK 2 Gaëtan Barlot  60' LP 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros  60' Replacements: HK 16 Anthony Étrillard  60' PR 17 Quentin Walcker  60' PR 18 Sipili Falatea  52' FL 19 Baptiste Pesenti  52' LK 20 Cyril Cazeaux  58' FL 21 Cameron Woki  54' SH 22 Teddy Iribaren  70' FB 23 Anthony Bouthier Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Damon Murphy (Australia) Television match official: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Florent Vanverberghe (France) had been named on the bench, but withdrew the day before the game due to injury and was replaced by Cyril Cazeaux.
• Andrew Kellaway Lachlan Lonergan and Darcy Swain (all Australia) and Gaëtan Barlot, Anthony Étrillard, Sipili Falatea, Teddy Iribaren, Melvyn Jaminet and Quentin Walcker (all France) made their international debuts.

Second test

13 July 2021 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	26–28	France
Try: Gordon 38' c Hooper 71' c Con: Lolesio (2/2) 40', 72' Pen: Lolesio (4/4) 17', 26', 46', 75'	Report	Try: Penaud 22' c Con: Jaminet (1/1) 23' Pen: Jaminet (7/7) 2', 10', 35', 51', 56', 63', 78'

AAMI Stadium, Melbourne[1] Attendance: 20,113 Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 Tom Wright  56' OC 13 Hunter Paisami  72' IC 12 Matt To'omua  67'  72' LW 11 Marika Koroibete FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 Jake Gordon  56' N8 8 Harry Wilson BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 Rob Valetini RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 Matt Philip  63' TP 3 Taniela Tupou  51' HK 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa  67' LP 1 James Slipper  63' Replacements: HK 16 Lachlan Lonergan  67' PR 17 Angus Bell  63' PR 18 Allan Alaalatoa  51' LK 19 Darcy Swain  63' N8 20 Isi Naisarani  63' SH 21 Tate McDermott  56' CE 22 Len Ikitau  67' WG 23 Andrew Kellaway  56' Coach: Dave Rennie

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Arthur Vincent IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 Gabin Villière FH 10 Louis Carbonel SH 9 Baptiste Couilloud  78' N8 8 Anthony Jelonch (c) OF 7 Cameron Woki BF 6 Ibrahim Diallo  67' RL 5 Cyril Cazeaux  51' LL 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh  63' TP 3 Wilfrid Hounkpatin  51' HK 2 Gaëtan Barlot  67' LP 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros  63' Replacements: HK 16 Anthony Étrillard  67' PR 17 Enzo Forletta  63' PR 18 Demba Bamba  51' LK 19 Kilian Geraci  63'  72' LK 20 Romain Taofifénua  51' FL 21 Sekou Macalou  67' SH 22 Teddy Iribaren  78' FB 23 Anthony Bouthier  72' Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Damon Murphy (Australia) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Len Ikitau (Australia) and Pierre-Henri Azagoh, Ibrahim Diallo, Enzo Forletta and Wilfrid Hounkpatin (all France) made their international debuts.
• France win in Australia for the first time since their 28–19 victory in Sydney in the final test of their 1990 tour.

Third test

17 July 2021 20:00 AEST (UTC+10)

Australia	33–30	France
Try: McDermott 11' c Lolesio 20' c Tupou 51' c Con: Lolesio (3/3) 12', 21', 53' Pen: Lolesio (4/5) 26', 40', 73', 79'	Report	Try: Couilloud 8' c Woki 36' c Barassi 47' c Con: Jaminet (3/3) 9', 37', 48' Pen: Jaminet (3/4) 4', 14', 75'

Lang Park, Brisbane[1] Attendance: 34,170 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

FB 15 Tom Banks RW 14 Filipo Daugunu  2' OC 13 Len Ikitau IC 12 Hunter Paisami  78' LW 11 Marika Koroibete  5' FH 10 Noah Lolesio SH 9 Tate McDermott  73' N8 8 Isi Naisarani  71' BF 7 Michael Hooper (c) OF 6 Lachlan Swinton  55' RL 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto LL 4 Darcy Swain TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa  47' HK 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa  75' LP 1 James Slipper  47' Replacements: HK 16 Jordan Uelese  75' PR 17 Angus Bell  47' PR 18 Taniela Tupou  47' LK 19 Matt Philip  71' FL 20 Rob Valetini  55' SH 21 Jake Gordon  73' CE 22 Matt To'omua  78' FB 23 Reece Hodge  2' Coach: Dave Rennie

FB 15 Melvyn Jaminet RW 14 Damian Penaud OC 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi IC 12 Arthur Vincent LW 11 Teddy Thomas  59' FH 10 Antoine Hastoy  67' SH 9 Baptiste Couilloud N8 8 Anthony Jelonch (c)  5'  17' OF 7 Cameron Woki BF 6 Dylan Cretin  62' RL 5 Romain Taofifénua  63' LL 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh TP 3 Sipili Falatea  47' HK 2 Gaëtan Barlot  59' LP 1 Enzo Forletta  62' Replacements: HK 16 Anthony Étrillard  59' PR 17 Quentin Walcker  62' PR 18 Demba Bamba  47' FL 19 Baptiste Pesenti  63' FL 20 Alexandre Bécognée  5'  17'  62' SH 21 Teddy Iribaren FB 22 Anthony Bouthier  67' CE 23 Julien Hériteau  59' Coach: Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Notes:

• Cyril Cazeaux (France) was named to start but withdrew ahead of the game and was replaced by Pierre-Henri Azagoh. Baptiste Pesenti replaced Azagoh on the bench.
• Alexandre Bécognée, Antoine Hastoy and Julien Hériteau (all France) made their international debuts.
• Australia retain the Trophée des Bicentenaires.
• Australia win a home test-series for the first time since France last toured to Australia in 2014.

See also

• 2021 July rugby union tests