Hosts France adopted up their opening-night conquer the All Blacks with an underwhelming defeat of Uruguay on Thursday to stay prime of Pool A on the Rugby World Cup.
Last week’s rip-roaring victory over three-time winners New Zealand was all the time going to be a tough act to comply with for the hosts, however few had anticipated them to battle in opposition to Uruguay – one of many lowest-ranked groups on the match.
France coach Fabien Galthie made wholesale adjustments to the house facet, opting to relaxation the likes of Gregory Alldritt, Gael Fickou, Charles Ollivon and captain Antoine Dupont.
But he warned his gamers to not present complacency on the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, noting that Uruguay had “big hearts” and “a lot of energy and aggression”.
That warning turned out to be an understatement.
For all their limitations, most notably on the scrum, Uruguay confirmed up with an actual spring of their step, proving themselves to be ingenious and daring with ball in hand – although they by no means actually had sufficient of it.
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Uruguay’ scrum struggled from the get-go, handing the hosts an early penalty that Melvyn Jaminet had no bother changing. But it was the unfancied guests who claimed the primary strive, with Felipe Etcheverry lobbing the French defence with a stunning kick out extensive that Nicolas Freitas grounded over the road to place Uruguay in entrance.
It was unlikely lead for Los Teros – as Uruguay are recognized – and the hosts had been quickly again in entrance, courtesy of some intelligent work by scrum-half Maxime Lucu who despatched Antoine Hastoy throughout the road for France’s strive.
Jaminet’s conversion was adopted by one other penalty when Uruguay collapsed the scrum, once more, however France’s momentum stalled after Romain Taofifenua was sin-binned for a shoulder-blow to Arata’s face, whose downward movement spared the Frenchman an improve to a purple.
Moments later, Etcheverry darted by way of a niche within the French defence and leapt for the road, just for the match officers to annul the strive after recognizing an obstruction within the build-up.
With Taofifenua again on the pitch, it was France’s flip to squander try-scoring alternatives as Uruguay’s defence held agency, leaving the guests trailing by simply 8 factors at half time.
The South Americans confirmed loads extra intent after the break. They had been unfortunate to not rating after Amaya broke the French defensive position and sprinted down the pitch, solely to be pinned down on the final.
There was a smattering of whistles within the stands when the hosts opted to kick – and miss – a penalty from 50 yards out as a substitute of going for a strive, and there have been outrights boos when the stressed Amaya sprinted previous two defenders to attain Uruguay’s second strive.
It was sensible work by Uruguay, however their finest efforts had been undone moments later when a rushed kick by Etcheverry bounced off one in every of his teammates, permitting Peato Mauvaka to choose up for the simplest of tries.
France, fighting self-discipline all night time, had been nonetheless unable to take command and managed just one extra strive, with 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who turned Les Bleus’ youngest participant at a World Cup.
Originally revealed on France24