France Report Card: No discipline and no consistency
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Updated 11/10/2015 at 23:09 GMT
France crumbled to a 24-9 defeat against an injury-hit Ireland. Here’s how they rated.
France's number 8 Louis Picamoles applauds the crowd as he leaves the pitch following their Pool D match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between France and Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on October 11, 2015
Image credit: AFP
MATCH GRADE: D
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre will be furious. To lose so convincingly against an Ireland side that lost its key players in the first half isn’t good enough. No discipline, no consistency and they got bullied. They’ll probably go and beat New Zealand now. Frustratingly, that’s France.
STAR MEN
1- Wesley Fofana
One of few French players who showed any real get up and go. Ran and ran but lacked support.
2- Scott Spedding
Kicked some tough kicks, generally caught well and showed a willingness to attack.
3- Louis Picamoles
Started well by taking the game to Ireland but faded badly in the second half.
BAD DAY - Thierry Dusatoir
Like Picamoles, he too started well and looked set for an inspirational match. But once Ireland scored the first try, he lacked clear leadership, ran out of ideas and generally wilted under the pressure.
France coach Philippe Saint-André
We must prepare ourselves for a huge fight this weekend: we must stick together, accept that we didn’t play well in this game and be ready for the next one. We are not out of the tournament yet.
KEY STATS
- This win is Ireland’s biggest win over France since 1975 when they won 25-6, it's their 4th biggest winning margin of all time against France.
- This was only the 2nd time that France have failed to score a try in a RWC pool stage game (v Argentina in 2007).
- This game saw the lowest scoring first half in matches between these sides since 2001.
- Rob Kearney became the 4th Irish player to score a try in three consecutive RWC games.
- Conor Murray is the first Irish scrum-half to score a RWC try against a Tier One Nation.
- This was Ireland’s first ever RWC win over France, Les Bleus had won all three Rugby World Cup games between the two sides with each win coming by 22+ points.
- Ireland have topped their World Cup pool for the second consecutive campaign, this after failing to top a Pool at the six World Cups before that.
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