France beat Georgia 64-7 to advance

[Burgs]

France beat Georgia 64-7 to advance

MARSEILLE, 30 September –

An impressive France have beaten Georgia 64-7 to book themselves a place in the world cup quarter-finals.

The nine-tries-to-one victory gave the host nation the bonus point win they needed to give themselves the best chance of topping Pool D and avoiding a meeting with the All Blacks in Cardiff on Saturday.

However, that depends on Ireland scoring a bonus-point, seven point-plus win against Argentina.

Christophe Dominici, who crossed for a brace, was joined on the try-scoring sheet by Clement Poitrenaud, Yannick Nyanga, Lionel Beauxis, Sebastien Bruno, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire and Remy Martin. Beauxis put in an impressive kicking display with three penalties and five conversions to give France the convincing win.

The host nation was full of business from the outset, immediately getting on the front foot against the physical Georgians with some driving forward play and cohesive work out wide.

Poitrenaud brought the packed house to its feet when he chimed into a beautifully worked backline move and raced away to cross the line untouched in the seventh minute

Georgia prop Mamuka Magrakvelidze was sent to the sin bin in the 28th minute for obstructing play.

His loss was felt immediately as Nyanga strolled over the line for France's second converted try after scooping up a ball that spat out the back of a scrum close to Georgia's line.

The bonus point was secured in the 45th minute when Beauxis put in a clever cross-field kick that was snaffled by wing Dominici, who then had to step inside his marker to find his way to the line.

Georgia scored a deserved try when replacement forward Zviad Maisuradze barged over 10 minutes from time. Fly half Malkhaz Urjukashvili kicked the conversion.

Georgia never gave up, but it was a classy all-round display by France.

[Jehna]

Ah yeah ok buddy...whatever you reckon..
______________________________
Ibanez: We can oust All Blacks

1/10/2007 3:21:19 PM
PA Sport

Raphael Ibanez believes French pride will match New Zealand power when the two teams meet in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Cardiff next Saturday.

The hosts were consigned to leaving their homeland and playing the tournament favourites when they came second to Argentina in Pool D, even though Les Bleus managed a 64-7 drubbing of Georgia in their last group match.

"We have reasons to believe. We have lived together for many weeks. This is an exciting week. We will play against one of the best teams, it's fantastic. We don't think they are the favourites. We will go with pride," said the French captain.

"We've qualified for the quarter-finals and that was our first objective before the start of the competition."

The French have a good history against New Zealand, memorably winning 43-31 in a semi-final at Twickenham in 1999 in what is considered to be the World Cup's greatest match.

And French coach Bernard Laporte, who knows his team has only itself to blame for its Cardiff trip after messing up in its opening match against Argentina at the Stade de France, is certain the favourites can be toppled.

"The All Blacks are not insurmountable. We will prepare for this match with great seriousness. New Zealand are a good team, as are Australia and South Africa. We will make an assessment of them next Saturday night. It's necessary that we fight," he said.

"We did what we had to do to qualify, but we would have preferred to play in Paris or Marseille or in Toulouse. I don't know if there will be a lot of French supporters."

"Quarter-finals are 50-50, so we have to use all the qualities and strengths we've got and consider it a one-off match. Never think there's a favourite team and take your chances as they come. They're only human beings."

[Burgs]

Just so long as it is a physical match I don't mind!
Actually ran into some more despondent Kiwi's at the mine, they are already building their excuses for not being Champions!!!

[Jehna]

Just so long as it is a physical match I don't mind!
Actually ran into some more despondent Kiwi's at the mine, they are already building their excuses for not being Champions!!!

That's pretty poor form! Where's the faith? I'm hoping that France do some bashing hehe...if we could just get rid of Dan Carter, Luke McAlister, Richie McCaw...