FRANCE SURVIVE OLYMPIC TEST

FRANCE’S rugby players came to the Olympic Stadium talking of feeling the presence of the likes of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, and their great deeds. Whether one day performers here will talk of walking in the footsteps of Andy Carroll and Mark Noble after West Ham have moved in is open to debate, but it mattered little as the arena properly opened for non-athletics business. There was not much in the way of greatness from France, who were given a torrid time up front for much of this game by the brave Romanians before a late burst secured a 38-11 victory and a bonus point. Five tries were scored and, for all their inconsistency on the night, it was France’s fourth consecutive win. But their main group rivals Ireland are unlikely to have been too perturbed. This was the first time the stadium hosted an event involving a ball sport full-on, although in August there was a reduced-scale trial involving Samoa and Barbarians. Last night it was only just short of its operating 54,000 capacity, with seats pulled over the track but swathes at the back closed off due to obscured views. The overall effect is decent enough for spectators with great acoustics, although nobody will feel on top of the action. Romania, their status eroded these past two decades due to the forces of professionalism and communism’s collapse, have played in every World Cup and put their experience to good use against a side who made 13 changes from their opener against Italy. They were unlucky not to build a useful lead in the first half-hour, centre Florin Vliacu adjudged to have been held up when he drove over the line before missing an easy penalty. The pivotal moment on 29 minutes saw prop Paulica Ion sent to the sin bin for collapsing a maul. A minute later winger Sofiane Guitoune squeezed over in the corner before flanker Yannick Nyanga was put over by Alexandre Flanquart on the same spot, after a brilliant burst through the Romanian line by full back Brice Dulin. Trailing 17-6 at half-time, Romania tackled feverishly after the break and held out until the 66th minute when Guitoune added his second in the corner and the snakehips of Wesley Fofana put them out of sight. There was a late, well-deserved consolation from Valentin Ursache after a short line-out, although France stretched their lead when centre Gael Fickou ran through for a flattering fifth.