France rebounds as Tonga prepares for England

PARIS: Host France gave its expectant fans some hope that it could still land its first ever World Cup title on Sunday as it rammed home a one-man advantage to thrash part-timers Namibia 89-10.

The victory - a record in international rugby for the French and which included 13 tries - will also have lifted the pressure somewhat on coach Bernard Laporte.

He has come under the spotlight not only for his rugby nous but also his business affairs since they lost sensationally to Argentina in its opening match.

However, the lifting of the pressure will only be temporary as it faces an essentially do-or-die clash with Six Nations Triple Crown winner Ireland at the Stade de France on Friday.

Thankfully for the French, the Irish team has looked, to put it mildly, hapless in its first two wins against Namibia (32-17) and an extremely fortunate 14-10 defeat of Georgia.

Elsewhere there was war but little peace between Pacific Islanders Samoa and Tonga with the latter ending a nine- match losing streak against the other by beating the two-time quarterfinalist 19-15 despite playing the last eight minutes with 14 men.

Hale T Pole was the player to shame his country by becoming the first red card of the tournament - and then the Tongans really tried to press the self destruct button by playing the last four minutes with just 13.

In fact the Samoans did their best to make the Springboks' prediction that they would beat ailing world champion England, as revealed by coach Jake White, a mockery.

Instead it is unbeaten Tonga, who can lick its lips with anticipation at the England clash in Paris on September 28 and a possible first appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Fellow Pacific Islanders Fiji got out of jail literally with a rather fortunate 29-16 victory against Canada - a last second turnover when the Canadians were deep in the Fijian 22 leading to a 100m dash by fullback Kameli Ratuvou to touch down, giving the score a rather misleading slant to it.

However, probably much to the organizers and the sponsors and not least the embattled Laporte's relief the French made the most of its one-man advantage to turn on the style.

Even if there were still errors made by the flamboyant host, there was still a lot more substance to its play than the Irish had managed.

Vincent Clerc ran in three tries, while lock Jerome Nallet and cult hero Sebastian Chabal grabbed a brace each - captain for the night Jean-Baptiste Elissalde scored 27 points to easily surpass the 77-10 defeat of Fiji in 2001.

"I believe we have rediscovered the pleasure of playing," said 43-year-old Laporte, who is due to become Sports Minister after the World Cup campaign is over.

"We played rugby, okay I am not saying in relaxed mode, but with enthusiasm and the pleasure we demanded from the players."

Elissalde, who many believe if he and Toulouse clubmate Frederic Michalak had been brought on earlier in the match against Argentina could have turned things round, put the result more into perspective.

"I am satisfied but I would put this victory into its real context.

"We have won against a bunch of amateurs, who gave life and limb during the match, and who were only 14 for most of that (after the sending-off of Pierre Nieuwenhuis in the 20th minute).

"So let's get real and put it into its real perspective, even if we did achieve our aim," added the scrum-half.

Should Samoa have prevailed, Tonga would hardly have been saying Hale to the Pole after his two violent indiscretions led to his red card - but in the end it was all well that ends well.

AFP

(China Daily 09/18/2007 page24)