Paris: Wallabies fullback Jock Campbell felt the need to apologise to teammates and said he was shattered after a critical missed tackle at the death against France but has been praised for a “phenomenal” maiden start at international level.
After scoring Australia’s first try, the 27-year-old Queensland Reds product slipped off a simple tackle on Damian Penaud whose 77th-minute try helped secure a 30-29 victory for France over a Wallabies team that threw everything at the home side.
“Pretty shattered if I’m honest,” Campbell said on the post-match broadcast. “The missed the tackle at the end, me and Tommy [Wright], it comes down to that really. I’ve got to cop that on the chin and move on.”
Wallabies halfback Nic White leapt to Campbell’s defence and told the two-Test rookie he needed to keep in perspective his excellent touches in the lead-up to a tackle he’d rather have again.
“He was phenomenal and had a great game,” White told the Herald. “It’s just the type of guy he is. He’s so down in there at the moment. He can’t see the other 70-odd minutes where he played phenomenal.
“Huge pressure to be thrown a first start up here. We got around him already. He’s got nothing to apologise for.
“What a player he’s going to be if that’s what he’s dishing up with his first start. The future is bright.”
Campbell, who made 82 metres from seven runs and beat three defenders, threw the final pass for Lalakai Foketi’s sensational team try that began on Australia’s five-metre line.
With Tom Banks ruled due to an ankle injury, Campbell was thrown in the deep end at fullback after debuting off the bench against Scotland last week.
“I thought it was a really strong performance considering where we were playing and who against,” said Wallabies coach Dave Rennie. “For his second Test and first start … pretty cool. Jock’s mum and dad were in the stands and they would have been very proud tonight.
“He was assertive when he had ball in hand to bring the ball back and counter or kick at the appropriate times.”
Although both sides scored two tries apiece, it was Australia who slipped off far more tackles. The Wallabies missed 27 to France’s 14, with Taniela Tupou (five) and Michael Hooper (four) the worst culprits.
France’s offloading game also opened up holes in Australia’s defensive line, with the home side getting the ball away 16 times after initial contact compared to the Wallabies with just two offloads all match.
“I think we defended really well for a chunk of the game and there was a handful of times where they had a bit of time and space,” Rennie said.
“We were able to scramble and fight for each other and shut them down. Considering the amount of ball they had and for them to only get a couple of tries tonight, highlights the fact we defended pretty well for big chunks.
“We know they’re a big team with great athletes. You’re going to have to bar up defensively and put yourself in harms way and I think we did that really well for a big chunk. They offloaded a hell of a lot more than us.”
Australia’s next match is against Italy in Florence on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Watch all the action from the Wallabies’ Spring Tour with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
