The French labelled him "a pain" and George Smith certainly lived up to it with a tirelessly annoying man-of-the-match performance in his record-equalling Test at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Smith equalled Jason Little's record of 11 Tests for Australia against France in the 22-6 win and the visitors would have been sick of the sight of the Wallabies No.7 - just as they had predicted.

In three weeks' time, he will play his 100th Test in Auckland against the All Blacks.

But his 99th seemed reason enough to celebrate by terrorising the French, whose flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo had said earlier this week Smith was "a pain".

In what was always going to be a battle of the breakdown, Smith - who played until the final minute despite openside flankers Phil Waugh and David Pocock sitting on the bench - was everywhere.

The 28-year-old flattened France fullback Damien Traille in the 21st minute as the No.15 was kicking. Just being a nuisance really.

He came up with a sneaky intercept in the 28th minute as France attempted to mount an attack, one of the Wallabies' many successes in frustrating the visitors.

He pulled off a trysaving tackle on French hooker Dimitri Szarzewski in the 58th minute when the No.2 had looked certain to score.

And he really ticked off the opposition a minute later when he snuffed out another attacking raid with a bear-hug of a tackle and a trademark ball-steal.

Pocock eventually replaced lock James Horwill and Smith would have been forgiven for his pleading look towards the sideline as Waugh prepared to come on - but for No.8 Richard Brown as Australia experimented with three opensides on the park.

"It wasn't too bad I guess, it was a fast breakdown and fast guys around the field and the lineout was a lot shorter than what it normally is, but I think we worked well out there," Smith said.

Smith said he would prepare for his 100th Test with some club rugby in Sydney during the three-week break.

"A bit of time off but I'm sure I'll turn out for Manly at some stage," he said.

But he acknowledged becoming just the fourth Australian to reach the century would be an honour.

"It will be a special time for me and my family and also the players I've played alongside throughout those 99 Tests," he told reporters.

"Not many people get to reach that and when I do get the chance it will be something special." Wallabies coach Robbie Deans also paid tribute.

"He's played 99 Tests, you wouldn't think so watching him play today. you'd think it was his first in terms of enthusiasm," he said.

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