Scrappy Canada

France fails to impress in its opener

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Saturday October 02, 1999 12:42 PM

Canada's Al Charon grabs hold of France's Christophe Juillet. AP

BEZIERS, France (CNN/SI) -- The end result of 33-20 failed to truly represent the composition of the game as Canada gave France a run for its money, fighting right to the end of their World Cup match at Beziers on Sunday.

Canada, which had not won an international in eight games and in over a year almost upset France in their Group C match.

Canada struck first when its captain Gareth Rees sent a 40-meter (yard) penalty from far over on the left sailing over the crossbar.

After being cleared to play after passed a late fitness test Rees was forced off due to a injury late in the first half. It was uncertain whether he would start the match because of a problem with his left knee. Rees became the first player to play in all four World Cups.

The French on the other hand brought in reserve hooker Marc Dal Maso for injured South African-born prop Pieter de Villiers.

After Canada took the lead late in the first half with a try by scrumhalf Morgan Williams, France fought back to finish the half with an 18-10 lead.

French center Richard Dourthe scored 18 points as the hosts battled to victory.

He scored the first of France's four tries and kicked two conversions and three penalties. Dourthe scored the try when he chased through a short kick from Xavier Garbajosa after a break down the right.

But with the visitor's forwards matching the French, Canada's backs got plenty of possession, and Williams made the most of it in the 33rd minute, scoring between the posts with the home defense out of sight.

Canada started brightly, and France missed the powerful running of Emile Ntamack, who couldn't find a place in the team either fullback of wing.

Olivier Magne, outstanding throughout the match, capped a fine five-man move, sidestepping Mike Tait to charge over the line and open up an eight-point lead.

But Williams got the second of his two tries to cut the gap to 18-17 after 55 minutes.

Williams was lucky to get the second, clearly knocking the ball on moments before regathering to place it over the line.

The two tries in the last 20 minutes solidified France's hold on the match, but did little to show that it would be a force in the tournament.

Flyhalf Thomas Castaignede scored after he joined the back of a maul which rolled the Canadians back over their own line, and Emile got the fourth late in the game minutes after coming on as a replacement

Despite the late tries, France's handling was never up to the standard that brought it Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 and Canada's forwards were a match for the French until the closing minutes.

Five years ago Canada won a match that French forward Abdel Benazzi said was turned into 'a mix of a street fight and rugby' by the Canadians, and the history of bad feeling between the two sides threatened to resurface.

Canada shocked the crowd of 17,000-plus at Stade de la Mediterrane when it exposed France's wobbly defense with a soft try eight minutes from the end of the first half.

Winger Courtney Smith was dragged down in front of the posts and Williams picked it up at the back of the ruck and was able to run through untouched for his first international try.

With the whistles of the home crowd ringing in their ears, the French lifted their act and, after another Dourthe penalty, turned on a try created with some of their famous flair and finished off by Magne.

With six defeats in its last eight matches, France launched its World Cup campaign with its confidence battered and expectations low.

Coach Jean-Claude Skrela has said that a semifinal place would be the best French fans can hope for, adding that a Southern Hemisphere nation would almost certainly be crowned champion at the end of the five-week tournament.

Scorers: France 33 (Richard Dourthe, Olivier Magne, Thomas Castaignede, Emile Ntamack tries; Dourthe 3 penalties, 2 conversion) def. Canada 20 (Morgan Williams 2 tries, Gareth Rees 1 penalty, 1 conversion, Bobby Ross 1 penalty, 1 conversion).

France

Canada

 

Related information
Stories
Wales wins opening World Cup match 23-9 Fiji cruises to 67-18 win over Namibia Canada’s Rees selected for record fourth Cup
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.