On a roll: France
After convincing wins against Australia and Argentina, France coach Philippe Saint-André has warned his side not to take their foot off the pedal ahead of their clash with Samoa.
Last year's World Cup finalists are aiming to be among the top four seeds for the 2015 World Cup when the draw is made next month - thus avoiding the southern hemisphere favourites in the group stage.
The French had started slowly against the Pumas and trailed 13-3 before the quarter-of-an-hour mark but two quickfire tries by Vincent Clerc - taking him onto 34 and into second place in the all-time tryscoring lists for France and two clear of Saint-André - turned the match round.
Saint-André said he had enjoyed himself immensely in the first half which saw four tries scored and plenty of freeflowing rugby summed up by the fact that the first scrum was only a minute from the break.
"I am happy that we have been able to put together two successive victories in successive weeks, especially against two southern hemisphere sides," said the 45-year-old former France skipper.
"Even more so when one looks at the results and you see that no other country from Europe beat a southern hemisphere nation side today.
"We began poorly and lacked sharpness and rapidly were behind but we didn't panic.
"Nicolas Mas asked me whether it was necessary to have a prop anymore as the first scrum wasn't till the 39th minute!
"In the second half the Argentineans played a lot more with their boot. I still thought that we mastered them in the second half.
"One has to congratulate the players spirit who wanted still to score a fourth try in the dying seconds despite there being no bonus point on offer.
"We also have to slap Vincent Clerc on the back as he has now moved ahead of me to become the second biggest try scorer in French rugby behind Serge Blanco (who has 38)."
Saint-André said the nexus of the side had been born in the June tour of Argentina.
"I heard that this tour would be needless," he said.
"We took several regulars along like the captain (Pascal Papé), and some young players and we can see that the backbone of the team tonight is that of the last Test against the Pumas in June.
"You have to keep your humility when you see the Welsh who won the Six Nations Grand Slam but have lost their last five Tests ahead of hosting the All Blacks and the Australians.
"We can see that we really have a tightly-knit squad who give everything for each other. However, we must not get big-headed as we have the 'headhunters' (The Samoans) who are coming to the Stade de France next week."
The Bleus coach said that he had admired attacking spirit of his players in the first half.
"I have already said that you have to be a decathlete to play rugby," he said.
"Where I am happy is that we made some daring moves, we played good rugby, and we made some passes.
"In the first-half I really enjoyed myself. Those who love rugby saw ambition and initiative. Even at the end of the match, there was still this spirit and this hunger to score another try.
"When we have this spirit and this hunger then I believe we really can do good things. But we mustn't take our foot off the pedal."
Clerc explained how France managed to turn the momentum in their favour.
"We started the match poorly and didn't show the same commitment we had against Australia," said Clerc.
"They got us on the back foot but then we were more aggressive and imposed our game on them."
Number eight Louis Picamoles said next weekend's final Test against Samoa would offer a new challenge.
"We reacted well and kept going. The second half wasn't as good but we did the main thing and got another win, so let's not stop here," said Picamoles.
"We get on well together and we want to show it out on the pitch. Samoa will be very, very hard to beat. They showed that by beating Wales yesterday."
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Samoa have done well, but they will be facing a rugby team that could feasibly beat the All Blacks if they played each other in Paris on Saturday.
that would be a hell of a game. all 44 players should just get together and see which team is best on a wednesday afternoon in a local park. That would really freak out every single account in rugby union! Hahahaha! Go on just do it! have a rugby match for yourselves then hit the nearest pub and have a sing song!
Posted 14:08 20th November 2012
Toulousain says...
@bigb6969. please point me to where PSA is blowing his own trumpet, or criticising NZ?
Posted 10:47 19th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
Toulousain says...I think we may be slapping our selves on the back for being world champions and 19 games in a row with out defeat, including multiple victories over the teams currently ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the world rankings. Also being ranked number one in the world for 387 weeks out of 480 weeks since ratings started. In fact I think even lose these NZ loses the next two games tests (unlikely) NZ will actually be number at least until June, which will be another 26/27 weeks to add onto that. That is 80% (if you did not double points for RWC cup then NZ would never have lost in since first getting number 1 off England in 2004)
These are the facts.
Your post smacks of jealously.
I must say though France are looking quite powerful in how the beat Australia, yes it would be a good time for them to play each other right now.
Posted 08:36 19th November 2012
bartsinfrance says...
Shame they are not playing the ab¿s
Posted 07:26 19th November 2012
mikeyj9 says...
Well well well, beat a tired, injury plagued australia in their own back yard and suddenly need to be taken seriously? good team, yes, start winning consistantly home and away (AKA England 10 years ago) and maybe you can talk the talk.
NH still long way behind i'm afraid, unless you count the big wins at home vs Fiji.
Posted 03:04 19th November 2012
Toulousain says...
@bothhands, or is it @safehands? I've just come from the comments page on the Fra Arg game. Really heartening. Intelligent comments from both sets of fans. Mutual respect etc. Just as it is after a good hard fought game. Why do you come here with your negativity? Your comment is not even well researched. It is not at all what PSA is saying.
I can only imagine you are a Kiwi, bored of slapping yourself on the back on the Italy and Scotland pages, still hating the French for having scared you half to death last year in the RWC final. Don't be a hater. It's you who suffers in the end. And your AB team really doesn't need supporters like you.
I am reminded othe Gore Vidal's saying: "My success is not enough, OTHERS MUST FAIL"
That just about captures it. Nice
Posted 21:01 18th November 2012
Uchach says...
PSA far away from self-congratulations problems, imo.
Who remembers two wins in a row from France against teams alike Argentina & Australia ? It seems like an eternity to me.
France has it to win against Samoa next saturday. Question is, will they be serious enough to avoid their weel-known "suffisance" problems ?
If yes, they will send to the world & especially to the SH a signal not heard since a long time ago, there is a team able to deliver in the north.
Posted 14:09 18th November 2012
bothhands says...
He doesn't mind blowing the French trumpet, does he ? You have won 2 games in a row, but as WC Finalists it is to be expected, unnecessary self congrats I think .... get on with it.
Posted 12:52 18th November 2012