Giteau leads Australia to biggest victory

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Matt Giteau kicked eight goals and crafted four tries to lead Australia to their biggest winning margin over France and complete a 2-0 Test series sweep.

Giteau landed four penalties and four conversions for a 20-point haul in the 40-10 win over a depleted French squad -- the margin surpassing their record 35-12 win over France in the 1999 World Cup final.

The Wallaby flyhalf landed six from six in the first half to become the fifth Australian to surpass 300 points in international rugby.

He also arrowed a pinpoint crossfield kick for winger Peter Hynes' first Test try and used a slight of hand to send James Horwill over.

The Australians led 26-3 at half time, with France's only points coming via Francois Trinh-Duc's penalty just before the break.

The French maintained the bulk of possession and field position after half time but Australia scored first when Ryan Cross got outside his opposite from a long, flat Giteau pass and sprinted 25 meters to finish.

The same pair combined again 10 minutes later after a sustained attacking phase inside the French quarter to make it 40-3.

The Wallabies, 34-13 winners in Sydney last week, set the tone in Brisbane by establishing a 10-0 lead after eight minutes.

Giteau kicked the first of his four penalties from wide on the right side in the fourth minute and, three minutes later, kicked high and wide for an unmarked Hynes in the right corner.

He added penalties in the 16th, 23rd and 30th minutes to extend the margin to 19-0 before a trademark break in the 36th set up Horwill's try and punctuated a dominating attacking phase for the Wallabies.

The 25-year-old pivot swooped on a French knockdown about 30 meters out, twisted through the tackle of prop Pierre Correia, drew in the defense and gave his unmarked lock a brilliant backhanded flick pass.

The Australian defense held firm until a minute before full time when Trihn-Duc finished off a counterattacking movement as replacement Wallaby fullback Cameron Shepherd was being treated for a broken left leg.

The Wallabies have two weeks off before their first Tri-Nations match against World Cup winners South Africa in Perth.

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