No worries for Brunel as frustrated French target England

KUMAMOTO, Japan (Reuters) – Frustrated coach Jacques Brunel said France could only improve ahead of its blockbuster Pool C clash against England after surviving a big scare against Tonga to stumble into the World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

Just as in its opener against Argentina, France held on for a nerve-jangling 23-21 win, having built a big lead in the first half before seeing it frittered away after the break at Kumamoto Stadium.

The result left France second in the pool behind unbeaten England, and the northern hemisphere rivals will play off for top spot when they meet in Yokohama on Saturday.

While France has shone only in patches in all three of its pool games, which included a labored 33-9 win over the United States, Brunel said he was not alarmed.

“I’m not worried but unsatisfied. The players are frustrated. They attacked the game well and had good opportunities to score in the first half.

“But they made mistakes by rushing and by poor handling. We had wanted to play a better game. There is still work to do.”

Meanwhile, South Africa faces one final hurdle in its bid for a quarterfinal place, but seems certain to brush aside the challenge of minnows Canada when the teams meet in a Pool B encounter at the Kobe Stadium on Tuesday.

The Springboks need a bonus-point win to make sure of their place in the knockout stages, though a victory of any kind would do the trick unless Italy produces the shock of the tournament and downs New Zealand on Saturday.

New Zealand heads Pool B with 14 points from three games, with South Africa and Italy both on 10. Canada and Namibia have yet to claim a point.