Australia have ground to their sixth successive Test victory in an arm-wrestle at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, starting halves Bernard Foley and Nic White each kicking a penalty.
The Wallabies now head to Sydney with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series having extended their winning run against France in Australia to 10 matches in 24 years.
France brought their passion and muscle as they attempted to "overcome the insult" of their 50-23 thumping in Brisbane last week, but their famed flair was lacking, as was the Wallabies' attacking precision, and the Australian Rugby Union will have been bitterly disappointed with the fare provided to the small crowd of 27,189 looking for tries rather than raking drop punts after Australia had scored 23 tries in their previous five victories.
The victory, instead, was reward for the Wallabies' muscle and composure in the face of revenge mission.
Foley put the first points on the board in the 53rd minute following a penalty at the breakdown, while White put them six ahead 11 minutes later. White could have ensured coach Ewen McKenzie breathed easier, but he missed three penalty attempts in the second half.
France's defence, breakdown effort and general intensity were much improved on their first Test effort, when they were torn apart in a seven-try blitz, and hence the Wallabies chose not to chance their arm in their own territory.
France had opportunities to claim an early lead, but their lack of precision in attack, goal-kicking and the set-piece cost them dearly. Brice Dulin and Morgan Parra both missed penalty attempts while flanker Yannick Nyanga botched a try-scoring chance by failing to pick up his chargedown on Matt Toomua.
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