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France only had to kick the ball dead to beat the Wallabies, but lost possession as the hosts stole the most unlikely 23-21 victory.
The Wallabies have stolen the most unlikely Test victory over France 23-21, Noah Lolesio kicking a penalty after the visitors had failed to kick the ball into touch to seal the win.
The French, missing a host of stars, had the game won before a massive blunder saw the ball spill free and allow Dave Rennie's men one last chance to go ahead for the first time all night.
In his second start at five-eighth Lolesio drilled the penalty goal after the Wallabies had tried and failed to pulverise their way over for the match-winner.
It cost the French their first win in Australia since 1990 and ensured Australia's winning streak at Suncorp Stadium moved to eight.
The Wallabies had earlier butchered chances, Lolesio missing a field goal and Hunter Paisami's low-percentage cross-field kick to debutant Andrew Kellaway missing the mark in a scrappy, anxious first Test of the season that seemed all but certain to end in a loss.
Instead the French panicked at the line-out after winning a defensive penalty, putting the ball through hands and - under great pressure from hulking prop Taniela Tupou - eventually onto the floor before replacement halfback Tate McDermott swooped.
"Hooter's gone, opposition's got the ball and they win the line-out - you think you're in trouble," Rennie said.
"But there was a lot of character shown.
"I missed Test footy, so we've had a win and we're happy about that but we know we can be a lot better."
Winger Marika Koroibete was a standout while McDermott and Tupou's arrival in the second half sparked the side after a terrible first-half that saw the Wallabies trailing 15-0 after 23 minutes.
French winger Gabin Villiere scored twice as the hosts racked up consistent unforced errors.
Hooker Jake Gordon and Lolesio both knocked on in an anxious opening, Gordon making a bad defensive read to allow Villiere's second try.
The Wallabies slowly eased into the contest, France giving away repeated penalties - they were finally warned after the fifth - before hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa burrowed over from a maul.
Teams traded penalties in the second half, Tom Wright butchering a try that would have made it 18-17 when he was unable to dive on a neat Paisami grubber.
Instead, Louis Carbonel put the visitors ahead by eight entering the final 20 minutes.
Hooker Lachlan Lonergan, lock Darcy Swain and utility back Kellaway, on for Wright, all debuted in the second half.
Energised, they backed over for a try through Michael Hooper to make it a one-point game inside the final 10 minutes.
It looked to be too little too late until France, who had only left Sydney quarantine on Tuesday night, handed them one last chance.
Coach Fabien Galthie agreed it was a heartbreaking way to lose but with a rematch on Tuesday in Melbourne they needed to move on quickly.
"There's lots of strong emotion, we need to be able to get rid of a lot of those emotions," he said.
"We need to shift what just happened and focus on next week."
