Michael Hooper is likely to assume the captaincy for the remainder of the series. Source: Mark Nolan / Getty Images
AS they do in most matches, the French won the national anthem.
But from there, they always looked to be trailing a rather distant second.
Both the means and the result were precisely what the Wallabies, and rugby, needed to kick off the international season.
A victory and four tries would have been a satisfactory outcome after 80 minutes. But considering the half-time break had one looking a formality, and the other already completed, the occasion delivered more than could have been expected.
It was the stuff of a team that looks to have two vital components — talent in the ranks and purpose in their execution.
Their tries all contained elements which will have thrilled the coaching team. The most vital aspects were the support play, the awareness of the support and the off-loading that allowed that support to turn execution into points.
In recent seasons, at both provincial and international level, Australian teams have been a significant distance behind New Zealand sides in their off-loading ability.
With defences now so organised and disciplined, if a team is limited in the offload area their win-loss record will look very sickly.
The Wallabies appeared to be a side that have done a lot of work in this area, and the fact it paid off so handsomely will undoubtedly encourage them to do more.
In his 50th Test, Queensland Red James Slipper was a standout among the pack and debutant Sam Carter also indicated that he fits comfortably in the big time.
Kurtley Beale (L) came off the bench and scored a try in the second half. Source: Getty Images
But the man who made the most significant contribution was inside centre Matt Toomua.
One would be loathe to start throwing out comparisons with Tim Horan, but I'm not sure if any Wallaby No.12 since Horan was running around has contributed more to a win than Toomua did in the 63 minutes he was on the field.
His passing, both short and long, was impeccable, his vision and awareness of the players around him was precisely what is required of a world-class inside centre, defensively he was a rock and his ability to be in the right place at the right time suggests he learnt enormously from his time on the European tour last year.
An inside centre is clearly going to be reliant on what his halves deliver, and to that end the slightly controversial pairing of Nic White and Bernard Foley delivered as Ewen McKenzie might have hoped.
The depth that is needed for a successful international side is clearly beginning to emerge.
While McKenize is not one to get overly carried away after either the first or last game of the season, I'm sure he will have allowed himself a quiet smile behind closed doors on Saturday night.
The Australian cricket team were guests at the match and there will be hope the Wallabies can build on their first Test of the season, just as Michael Clarke's mob did after their win at the Gabba last November.
A reality check though. As they often are when they are away from home, the French's strongest area was their lethargy. The contest at the breakdown was, by and large, no contest.
The Wallabies won't have that luxury against the Springboks, Pumas and All Blacks in The Rugby Championship and may even be a different scenario in Melbourne next week.
France of one week can be completely different to France of the previous. For their growth, that is probably what this Wallaby side needs to confront.
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