French finish with a flourish

French finish with a flourish

18 Sep 2011

Vincent Clerc scored a hat-trick as France beat Canada 46-19 in Napier.

The Canadians were highly competitive and trailed by just six points with 15 minutes to go, before France, who had brought on their big guns at the start of the final quarter, scored three tries.

You have to feel sorry for Canada, who had just four days between their last match, against Tonga, and this one. They were out on their feet at the end and didn’t deserve to lose by 27 points.

There were two tries in the opening six minutes of this game and both came via flyhalf up and unders. First, Francois Trinh-Duc launched the ball into Canada’s 22, fullback James Pritchard was unable to collect it in the air and Clerc scored. Ander Monro then kicked one at the other end, with the ball bouncing off a post and sitting up nicely for outside centre Ryan Smith.

The Canadians continued to punch above their weight, but Pritchard missed two penalties and their indiscipline let them down in the final five minutes of the half, with France scrumhalf Morgan Parra kicking three penalties.

Pritchard was wide of the mark again early in the second half (in contrast to Parra who kicked his fifth penalty), but Monro slotted two drop goals to keep his side in touch. Trinh-Duc then kicked a drop of his own, which was cancelled out by a Pritchard penalty.

France finally put the result beyond doubt on the 65-minute mark when they sent the ball wide and fullback Damien Traille cut back inside past two defenders to score a 45m try.

Clerc then ran in two late tries to get his hat-trick, but the final scoreline flattered the French.

By Simon Borchardt

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11 Comments

  • 1.Thorspants: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:34 am

    Aboot le Dragons?

  • 2.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:41 am

    Zut alors!

  • 3.RL: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:42 am

    Wet dragons.

  • 4.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:44 am

    France will take it. Canada cannot finish.

  • 5.Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:47 am

    never heard
    of a guy
    called
    parra

  • 6.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 10:57 am

    Poux is an unfortunate name too. Especially if he plays badly.

  • 7.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 11:36 am

    @Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-5: Parra le Phat et le Cleveu Speedsteu

  • 8.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 11:39 am

    Canada/Munroe to win this a la Jannie de Beer.

  • 9.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 11:41 am

    Canada will run out of gas now.

  • 10.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 11:44 am

    Rubbish rubbish penalty for the froggie jumping over the advertising boards. Craig Joubert is a little star struck here.

  • 11.GoBokkeAndIreland: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2011, 12:06 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-10: Totally agree. “incident” looked harmless.

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