France Words, Deeds

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Posted: Thursday October 28, 1999 04:06 PM

LONDON (Reuters) -- World Cup words and deeds from France on the way to its semifinal with tournament favorites New Zealand at Twickenham on Sunday.

Group C Matches

After a disappointing year, France recovered some of their conviction and flair but was still not totally convincing in an opening 33-20 win over Canada.

France won the try count by four to two, two of their scores coming from fine sweeping movements across the field rounded off by flanker Olivier Magne in the first half and substitute wing Emile Ntamack near the end.

But lapses in concentration and regrouping allowed Canada's scrumhalf Morgan Williams to dart in for two opportunist tries.

Tries: Stephane Glas, Olivier Magne, Thomas Castaignede, Emile Ntamack.
Conversions: Richard Dourthe (2).
Penalties: Dourthe (3).

Team: 15-Ugo Mola (17-Christophe Lamaison 57); 14-Xavier Garbajosa (16-Emile Ntamack 73), 13-Richard Dourthe, 12-Stephane Glas, 11-Christophe Dominici; 10-Thomas Castaignede, 9-Pierre Mignoni (18-Stephane Castaignede 78); 8-Christophe Juillet, 7-Olivier Magne, 6-Marc Lievremont (19-Lionel Mallier 88), 5-Fabien Pelous (20-Olivier Brouzet 20), 4-Abdel Benazzi, 3-Franck Tournaire, 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain), 1-Christian Califano (21-Cedric Soulette 88).

Quote: "We showed a lot of discipline. It's the first time a referee has thanked me after the match. I wanted to mention this because it's rare [for the French]. He said keep it up." -- French coach Jean-Claude Skrela.

Venue: Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Date: October 8
Result: France 47-Namibia 13

France accused themselves of too little concentration after their second unconvincing victory, a 47-13 win over brave Namibia.

Center Richard Dourthe kicked 17 points and gifted fullback Ugo Mola scored three of six French tries but the French admitted there was still a lot of work to be done before the closing pool game against Fiji.

Tries: Ugo Mola (3), Pierre Mignoni, Philippe Bernat-Salles, Emile Ntamack.
Conversions: Richard Dourthe (4).
Penalties: Dourthe (3).

Team: 15-Ugo Mola (17-Xavier Garbajosa 70), 14-Philippe Bernat-Salles, 13-Richard Dourthe, 12-Stephane Glas (16-Cedric Desbrosse 42), 11-Emile Ntamack; 10-Christophe Lamaison, 9-Pierre Mignoni (18-Stephane Castaignede 76); 8-Thomas Lievremont (20-Abdel Benazzi 26), 7-Olivier Magne (19-Arnaud Costes 62), 6-Marc Lievremont, 5-Fabien Pelous, 4-Olivier Brouzet, 3-Franck Tournaire, 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain) (22-Marc Dal Maso 68), 1-Christian Califano (21-Cedric Soulette 68).

Quote: "Some players are going to learn they have to change the way they are playing." -- French general manager Jo Maso.

Venue: Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Date: October 16
Result: France 28-Fiji 19
France, deep in trouble at 19-13 down, scored two late tries to beat Fiji 28-19 and reach the quarterfinals.

Fiji captain and prop Greg Smith was very unhappy with the decision to give France a penalty try at a crucial stage.

With 10 minutes to go, New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien awarded the try after eight scrums a meter from the line for a series of Fijian infringements. O'Brien booked both Fiji props.

Tries: Christophe Juillet.
Penalty try: Christophe Dominici.
Conversions: Richard Dourthe (2).
Penalties: Richard Dourthe (2), Christophe Lamaison.

Team: 15-Ugo Mola (16-Xavier Garbajosa 56); 14-Philippe Bernat-Salles, 13-Richard Dourthe, 12-Emile Ntamack, 11-Christophe Dominici; 10-Christophe Lamaison, 9-Stephane Castaignede (18-Fabien Galthie 72); 8-Christophe Juillet (20-Olivier Brouzet 65), 7-Olivier Magne (19-Arnaud Costes 77), 6-Marc Lievremont, 5-Fabien Pelous, 4-Abdel Benazzi, 3-Franck Tournaire, 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain, 22-Marc Dal Maso 52), 1-Christian Califano

Quote: "I think we were robbed. I still don't know why [the penalty try] was given." -- Smith.

Quarterfinal

Winger Philippe Bernat-Salles and fullback Xavier Garbajosa scored two tries each. France flyhalf Christophe Lamaison hit five conversions and four penalties.

After disappointing performances in the first round, France released their backline in a frenzied first 15 minutes and took a 17-0 lead after tries by Bernat-Salles and Garbajosa.

But poor French defense let Argentina back into their first Cup quarterfinal despite a try by French center Emile Ntamack.

Tries: Xavier Garbajosa (2), Philippe Bernat-Salles (2), Emile Ntamack.
Conversions: Christophe Lamaison (5).
Penalties: Christophe Lamaison (4).

Team: 15-Xavier Garbajosa (Ugo Mola 79); 14-Philippe Bernat-Salles, 13-Richard Dourthe (Stephane Glas 79), 12-Emile Ntamack, 11-Christophe Dominici; 10-Christophe Lamaison, 9-Fabien Galthie (Stephane Castaignede 70); 8-Christophe Juillet (Arnaud Costes 65), 7-Olivier Magne, 6-Marc Lievremont, 5-Abdel Benazzi, 4-Olivier Brouzet, 3-Franck Tournaire, 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain) (Marc Del Maso 76), 1-Cedric Soulette (Pieter de Villiers 58).

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