Australia made an encouraging start to their Test campaign, scoring seven tries in running riot against France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
But it was not a perfect night for the Wallabies, with Stephen Moore limping out of his first Test as captain after just five minutes and the pack conceding a penalty try in time added on at the end of the second half.
Pre-match concerns over the rookie halves pair and their second-row were unfounded as Nic White and Bernard Foley impressed and debutant lock Sam Carter was named man of the match as they produced in producing an attacking masterclass to pick up where they left off in Europe last year.
The seven-try blitz was their highest score over France in Australia, and they led 50-9 when Israel Folau loped 50 metres and put replacement Pat McCabe over with his first touch of the ball in the 71st minute.
Folau also scored a try of his own and played a key role in the try of the night with Nick Cummins finishing a beautiful backline move.
France, to their credit, made a late impact through their replacements to reduce the margin with two five-pointers, including a pushover penalty try in time added-on.
The Wallabies led 29-9 at half-time, with the game all but over, following a four-try first half in which the French fumbled their way out of contention.
Foley and White took to their task with relish - finding a hungry array of runners with wide passes of which Quade Cooper would have been proud - but it was 50-cap forwards Wycliff Palu and James Slipper, a stand out in his 65 minutes, who were the unlikely duo to combine and put Folau over for the opening try in the 19th minute.
Israel Folau was sensational again
Vice-captain Adam Ashley-Cooper was quickly over for the second thanks to a clever grubber by Foley for Cummins before a dropped intercept allowed Matt Toomua to put his winger over.
France hung in through the boot of veteran fly-half Frederic Michalak, but the Wallabies scooted clear with their clinical attack - Tevita Kuridrani producing a deft volleyball bump for Michael Hooper to score in the 32nd minute.
Toomua's try just before the break epitomised the game, the centre pouncing on a loose ball that debutant winger Felix le Bourhis left behind following a turnover from a Rob Simmons break.
Australia: Tries Folau (18'), Ashley-Cooper (23'), Hooper (32'), Toomua (38'), Cummins (55'), Beale (67'), McCabe (70')
Cons Foley (20', 32', 39', 57', 68', 71')
Pens Foley (3')
France: Tries Parra (72'), Penalty try (80')
Cons Michalak (73', 80')
Pens Michalak (26', 36')
Drops Michalak (4')
3' AUS 3-0 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the goal from 24 metres directly in front.
4' AUS 3-3 FRA: Australia spill the kick-off and France are straight on the front foot. Freddie Michalak levels the score with a drop goal off the left-hand post.
18' AUS 8-3 FRA: Try Australia: Israel Folau slices through defence on left flank after taking short pop ball from James Slipper. Lovely play Australia. Kept ball alive after France seemed to have stopped the momentum.
20' AUS 10-3 FRA: Bernard Foley lands the extras from 5m inside touch.
23' AUS 15-3 FRA: Try Australia. Adam Ashley Cooper scores 27th Test try. Gael Fickou almost intercepted long flat ball, but pill rebounds to Matt Toomua who passes over his shoulder to Ashley-Cooper on the right touchline.
26' AUS 15-6 FRA: Penalty France, and Freddie Michalak has no problem reducing the margin.
32' AUS 20-6 FRA: Try awarded. Michael Hooper galloped 30m after good hands from the backs. Tevita Kuridrani tipped final pass, but ball went backwards from hands.
32' AUS 22-6 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the extras.
36' AUS 22-9 FRA: Frederic Michalak lands the goal.
38' AUS 27-9 FRA: Rob Simmons breaks but unsupported, France collect ball but then butcher the clearance, spilling ball in goal and Matt Toomua touches down after a pinball sequence. Comical but they all count.
39' AUS 29-9 FRA: Bernard Foley slots the extras.
HT AUS 29-9 FRA
55' AUS 34-9 FRA: Fantastic try Nick Cummins. Decoy play that saw Toomua feed Ashley-Cooper inside to feed Folau on angled run outside and then pop to Cummins switching back inside. Tremendous move, and the Wallabies are looking sharp.
57' AUS 36-9 FRA: Bernard Foley lands the extras from 10m inside touch.
67' AUS 41-9 FRA: Super try Kurtley Beale, who feeds a long pass to Tevita Kuridrani, who ghosts through a half-gap wide in the defence. Beale follows the play and accepts a no-look pop pass from Kuridrani.
68' AUS 43-9 FRA: Bernard Foley kicks the conversion.
70' AUS 48-9 FRA: Try Pat McCabe after a length-of-the-field break from Israel Folau, who stood up Wesley Fofana. Too easy for Australia, and France are being routed.
71' AUS 50-9 FRA: Bernard Foley converts, and we're left to wonder what else can happen in the remaining 10 minutes.
72' AUS 50-14 FRA: France straight on the attack from the kick-off and the TMO is involved. Referee Craig Joubert "believes a try has been scored". Desperate defence from Australia and Ben McCalman seems to have stopped the attack. Referee sees it differently and awards the five-pointer.
74' AUS 50-16 FRA: Michalak converts.
80'+1' AUS 50-21 FRA: France scrum on Australia 5m, and they are awarded a penalty try. Good finish from France, and they can take something from that.
80+2' AUS 50-23 FRA: Michalak converts. Disappointing finish from Australia but a sound opening performance of the season.
FT AUS 50-23 FRA
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