The good and bad of France on show

Fukuoka – Scrumhalf Baptiste Serin (right) scored a try and set up another with a stellar game off the bench as Les Bleus scrambled to a stop-start 33-9 win over a gallant United States at the World Cup yesterday.

With the United States within three points of the French going into the last quarter, Serin’s late salvo helped save their blushes on a humid night at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium.

Setting up Gael Fickou with a third try for France, Serin then scored one of his own in the 70th minute to secure the bonus point. Replacement prop Jefferson Poirot grabbed a fifth and final try off the back of a maul as the French, having begun the match brightly, found top gear again.

The bonus win put France second just behind England in Pool C ahead of their third match against Tonga in Kumamoto on Sunday but Eddie Jones’ side will feel confident after a typically French performance mixing moments of fine play with basic errors, complacency and indiscipline.

“I think we got a big surprise there in the first half,” said France lock Bernard le Roux.

“I think we thought it was going to be a bit easier but they got stuck in there at the breakdown and we couldn’t get clean ball. It was really tough, particularly in the first half.

“The replacements made a big difference, we got some go forward in the set piece and opened up space on the outside.”

Eagles coach Gary Gold, scathing of his team’s performance in their opening loss to England, said he was proud of his players.

“I feel we did go toe-to-toe,” the South African said.

“We made some mistakes and when you play against a team of France’s calibre, when you make mistakes, they make you pay. But we never gave up the fight for the full 80 minutes, I’m just so proud of everybody.”

Captained by veteran No 8 Louis Picamoles, France started with 12 changes from the side that won a cliff-hanger against Argentina last week, with coach Jacques Brunel opting for experience over youth in key positions.

Yet for much of the match they played like they barely knew each other, with only the pinpoint kicking of Camille Lopez a threat to the Americans. – Reuters