Hat-trick hero: Vincent Clerc
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France wing Vincent Clerc scored three tries to help see off a resurgent Canada outfit 46-19 in the wet at McLean Park on Sunday.
In difficult conditions that made handling of the ball difficult, France scrum-half Moran Parra landed 23 points from the boot to ensure Les Bleus were able to bank their second win of the tournament in Napier.
The scrum-half's sure-footed accuracy in heavy rain meant France were able to bounce back from a slow start and quell the fight of the Canucks.
Canada tried hard but effort was about all they brought to the contest.
The Canadians had twice led early on but they were left to rue the misses from full-back James Pritchard as France were let off the hook.
Pritchard started well enough - slotting over his first penalty attempt to put Canada into an early lead. However, France hit back through Clerc after an up-and-under from Francois Trinh-Duc was missed by Pritchard, and the French flyer was able to pick up the loose ball and score an easy try.
The Canucks replied with a try of their own - also from an up-and-under. France full-back Damien Traille couldn't control the high ball and Canada centre Ryan Smith pounced for a converted try under the sticks.
Canada led 10-7, but failed to extend their lead after Pritchard missed two shots at goal, while Parra slotted over four penalties - three in the final six minutes of the first half to gibe his team a 19-10 lead at half-time.
Pritchard missed his third penalty attempt three minutes after the break, however Canada pivot Ander Monro did cut the deficit with a drop-goal. Parra, though, brought his personally tally to 17 points with his fifth successful penalty - only for Monro to respond with his second drop-goal of the match.
Parra finally missed an attempt at goal in the 51st minute but Trinh-Duc was on target with a drop-goal of his own to restore the nine-point advantage.
In a see-saw battle, Canada responded again when Pritchard added a three-pointer. However France put the game beyond doubt with a moment of brilliance from Traille breaking the Canadian resistance.
And although the Canucks attempted to find a way back into the game, France had the last word as Clerc crossed twice in the final minutes to give the score an unflattering look.
Man of the match: Morgan Parra's kicking from the tee was flawless.
Moment of the match: Canada's try alerted the French that they were gonna have a mighty big game on their hands.
Villain of the match: Nothing to report!
The scorers:
For France:
Tries: Clerc 3, Traille
Cons: Parra 4
Pens: Parra 5
Drop: Trinh-Duc
For Canada:
Try: Smith
Con: Pritchard
Pens: Pritchard
Drops: Monro 2
France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Aurélien Rougerie (c), 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Romain, Millo-Chluski, 4 Pascale Papé, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux Poux.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Fabrice Estebanez, 22 Maxime Médard.
Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Ciaran Hearn, 13 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Ryan Smith, 11 Phil Mackenzie, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Ed Fairhurst, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Chauncey O'Toole, 6 Adam Kleeberger, 5 Jamie Cudmore, 4 Jebb Sinclair, 3 Jason Marshall, 2 Pat Riordan (c), 1 Hubert Buydens.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Hamilton, 17 Scott Franklin, 18 Tyler Hotson, 19 Nanyak Dala, 20 Sean White, 21 Nathan Hirayama, 22 Conor Trainor.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Comments
Rosbif says...
@GN100, thanks for the clarity of thought Sounds like a winning AB mentality to me. I hope the French dont just roll over. Fingers crossed no-one gets injured. Then see you in the final hopefully :)
Posted 09:00 19th September 2011
hayj05 says...
@ minkusbc. It was done like that in 1999, the first time they had 20 teams competing in the WC. The 5 pool winners went through to the QFs.
The next 5 runners up + the best 3rd place side went into a qf qualfication round, with the 3 winners going through to the QFs.
Posted 06:14 19th September 2011
minkusbc says...
I was thinking, if we had 5 pools of 4 teams each, then each team could have the same rest time in between games. 5 winners plus 3 next best (based on bonus points, tries, drop goals, point differential etc) go on to the final 8. Next 8 play in a tier two competition. Better than one team having 7 days rest and the other team 4 days rest.
Posted 01:59 19th September 2011
minkusbc says...
Well done Canadian boys! If only each half was only 35 minutes long. It does make you wonder what another 3 days of rest would have done. Those last 5 minutes in each half were the turning point. Must be a way of evening out the days between games for every team.
Posted 20:41 18th September 2011
Rosbif says...
@lyhel, I'm afraid that came across wrong on my part.... I don't fancy our chances vs ABs at all..!!
But I'm curious about the psychology of the players going into the game. To have any chance of winning, we would have to really "get up" for it physically, a la Ireland vs Oz. But there is no real incentive to go for the win. If we lose, we play Eng in QF then Ire in semi, thereby staying away from SH teams till the final. If we win, we play Arg in QF but then either Oz or SA in the semi. I would argue Eng or Arg are much the same in the QF. But, with all respect to Ire, I wld prefer to avoid Oz or SA. Wouldn't you? So my guess is the players will have that in the back of their minds and hence have NO CHANCE of winning next Saturday.
Unless (dare I say it?) the ABs are having similar thoughts......Any AB fans out there? Thoughts?
Posted 19:17 18th September 2011
melkdave says...
@exdigger
The Churhill cup has finished never to be played again and it was limited in its teams usually the A sides from the home unions(british) and 2 other developing nations with Canada -USA.In europe theres the nations cup whitch Georgia have won 4 the last 4 years and in asia the pacific 5 nations where its the Pacific island teams Japan and a NZ or Australian A side,( i think) Georgia -Samoa Canada ect need regular tests against the tier 1 nations now to continue there develiopment and to play eachother as well
A bowl/plate RWC co0mpetion has lots of advantages
1) it gives annother goal for the developing natins at the tourament apart from trying to take a big scalp lol
2) It increases the chances of a delveloping nations media reporting on the matches espically on tv if they have a chance of wining something thus hopefully bring new players to the sport
3) It enables the chances of a host counrty actually making a profit from the tourament NZ will actually make a loss this year.As the IRB is asking £95 million for the rights and over £100 million for 2015-2019 so they can fund the games development worldwide.Now if you want the game only being hosted in the rich established countries thats fine.But what about having it in the Americas or other afican countries in the futureWHO WILL WANT TO IF YOUR MAKING A LOSS EVERYTIME
Thats just some of the advantages
Posted 15:50 18th September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Exdigger, This past Churchill Cup was the last one to be played. It has been cancelled by the IRB. The USA and Canada have been added to the regular test match fold with the big boys. There was an article about it on this site in the days after this past Churchill Cup final.
Posted 15:20 18th September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
As an Eagles fan it's tough for me to say this but I must give Canada their due respect. Of all the 2nd tier teams at this RWC I think it is they who will leave with their reputations most enhanced. 5 penalties against and 2 tries in the last minutes is only the sign of inexperience on the big stage. Factor that out of the equation and Canada really show that they are ready for more matches against the big dogs. As I've said before I will be hoping for them, the USA and all the other 2nd tier nations that a great deal of their players play their way into big time contracts at this RWC.
Posted 14:13 18th September 2011
SACanuck says...
Great effort Canada. Pity about those 3 penalties within 5 min become half time and running out of steam on the end. Sure a 6 or 7 day break would have kept the score a lot closer. The scrum worked well even on those condiitions and against the 4th ranked team in the world. You guys deserve a well earned beer or two
Posted 13:36 18th September 2011
exdigger says...
@Melkdave it's called the Churchill cup and played every year...
Posted 13:16 18th September 2011
Rosbif says...
Well played Fra. 2 games. 10 points. 29 out of 30 players used. Only Skrela injured (hopefully Mas and Palisson recover). We could not have asked for much more at this stage.
Players still looking "heavy" to me. The rain may have accentuated that. Maybe the weight training and strength work has taken their legs away. Maybe ML has a master plan and they are designed to "peak" for later in the tournament. Let's hope so.
Thought Picamoles and Bonnaire probably played themselves into NZ game, while Mermoz, Marty and Traille did not... My run-on team for NZ (assuming Mas, Palisson and Doussain aren't available) is Heymans, Clerc, Rougerie, Estebanez, Medard, T-Duc, Parra, Picamoles, Bonnaire, Dusautoir, Nallet, Pierre, Ducalcon, Servat, Poux.
Only question re bench is backrow replacement. H'Doquy vs Lakafia? Might depend if McCaw and/or Read plays....
Winner to be in same half of pool as Oz and Sth Af. So, a proverbial "no-win" situation....
Posted 12:59 18th September 2011
gauca says...
Yet again great to see one of the 'smaller' sides stepping up to the mark and showing how quickly they are closing the gap in terms of quality with the 'bigger' sides. Great stuff. Union as a whole is quickly becoming a truly competative global sport instead of an insular sport where many sides turn up to the WC in all honesty to make up the numbers.
Though I have misgivings about a number of players who started today I thought we played very well. Played the conditions well, managed the game well, concentrated for 80mins and played with alot of discipline too. It has been quite som time since we last managed a quality performance like this. Also thought we showed the Canucks the respect they truly deserve by taking the penalties when offered instead of going for 'power plays'.
Posted 11:55 18th September 2011
melkdave says...
Well annother cracking performance from a developing team .The scoreline is a bit flattering to France 2B honest .IRB surly has to introduce a Bowl comp for the teams finishing 3-4 in the pools now.Just think how mouthwatering a game between Georgia Vs Samoa or simlar would be at the RWC now ?
Posted 11:39 18th September 2011