France issue Olympics warning after Dupont-less show in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong final didn’t go as wanted for France, but the experience of losing 7-12 to New Zealand amid a raucous atmosphere should serve them well when it comes to managing the likely similarly intoxicating din of their home Olympics tournament at the end of July.
Support for the French was abundant in the Far East decider but there was a franticness to their play in this sold-out decider compared to the precision that transpired last month when they won a first title in 19 years in front of a limited Los Angeles audience where the atmosphere was far less intense.
The LA champions battled their way to 0-0 at the break on Sunday night, but they then came unstuck. It wasn’t the opening try off a quickly tapped penalty that was finished four passes later in the corner by Scott Curry that did for them – there was always a chance of coming back from 0-7 down in the blink of an eye.
However, they curiously lost their composure after gathering the restart kick, a facet of the game they had managed brilliantly against Ireland in the semi-finals.
There was a debate over whether Joachim Troubabal got his knee to the ground five metres in from touch near the 10-metre line. If so, the referee should have called a ruck, forcing the three New Zealanders who had snagged him to release, allow him to go to the ground and set up the ball for recycling.
"Oh my God, that's the stuff of dreams…"
– Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, the Dupont-less France's No9, on his crucial South Strand try, from Liam Heagney ?? in Hong Kong. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s #France7 @FranceRugby pic.twitter.com/nA8Uw5F8Ey
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2024
Play on was the decision, though, and the ball squirting loose backwards towards the 22 was followed by the panicked Stephen Parez, the scorer of the key try against the Irish when the yellow-carded French were down to six players before half-time, who blindly threw a reverse pass, inviting Brady Rush to intercept and Cody Vai to score.
France did eventually break their duck at the death with about two seconds remaining through Varian Pasquet.
There was another debate that Pasquet should have immediately shouted ‘no kick’ to the referee to decline the conversion, which could have left time for a restart with the score at 5-12 – but it was too late as they were all out of time out with the final whistle sounding as soon as the extras were added by Rayan Rebbadj.
Beaten but very much not bowed, though. There is a very encouraging, focused sense of unity about this French outfit.
For instance, Antoine Zeghdar, who hobbled off with a left leg injury in the first of the final, was assisted up the steps of the Hong Kong Stadium stand by Pasquet and Rebbadj to make sure he was part of the post-match presentation. That was a very nice touch.
The French are definitely on the rise and very much in with a gold medal shout in 15 weeks at the Stade de France. “We have the potential to achieve incredible things,” insisted Aaron Grandidier, the late-blooming, London-born speedster who only played his first rugby match of any kind at the age of 17.
Soon-to-be 24, he has rapidly zipped through the gears, bagging a move to Brive and then selection in the French sevens team where he wears the No9 shirt.
Now he is just months away from challenging at the Olympics. “It’s a shame we weren’t able to put it together in the final. We learned a lot and will come back stronger.”
Grandidier is no sevens slouch. When speaking with RugbyPass the previous night after his slick South Stand try helped France edge Spain in the quarter-finals, his enthusiasm was infectious.
“I found myself in the middle of the pitch and tried to take it outside, but I saw that they were over-chasing so a big right foot stepped opened it up to the try line.
“Oh my God, that’s the stuff of dreams; the stuff of dreams! I’d to pull out a little Jude Bellingham celebration but amazing, Amazing! What an atmosphere in this stadium!!”
Perhaps the biggest takeaway for the French from Hong Kong was that they sure aren’t a team dependent on the fantastic Antoine Dupont. The Test XV scrum-half gave the Guinness Six Nations a miss so that he could try out sevens with the hope of his country succeeding at Paris 2024.
France ended their near two-decade sevens title famine with Dupont on-song on LA, but he didn’t travel to the Far East as his weekend’s priority was steering Toulouse beyond Racing and into the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals, which he did.
In Dupont’s absence, though, the French kept their American vibe going nicely, making the final and enjoying tasty wins over Australia and Ireland along the way. “We did well in LA last month and it’s not something random,” vouched Jonathan Laugel to RugbyPass in the Hong Kong Stadium tunnel.
“It’s happening because it is paying off and we need to keep that consistency going again and again. I’m sure Antoine Dupont is still with us, but we are a big group with more than 25 guys who are training.
“Some are having some rest because of injury, some were there at our skills camp so it is a big group and Antoine Dupont is part of that group now as well and I’m sure he is proud of us. To continue that performance (from LA) shows it’s not something random.
“It’s awesome to see all the audience, all the public who is with us, and I’m sure Antoine brought something to this. He brought the light on our team.
“It is even more impactful when you have the likes of Antoine, but it remains really impactful even when he is not there so it is just a big group moving together for the victory towards Paris 2024.”
"It remains impactful even when Antoine isn't there…"
– Jonathan Laugel, with Liam Heagney ?? in Hong Kong, after a dramatic French comeback beats Australia 19-14. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s #France7 @FranceRugby
See RugbyPass TV https://t.co/z90EMWX9EI pic.twitter.com/xMLrrxh0BH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 5, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
4 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
4 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
4 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
96 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
96 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
96 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
96 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
96 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
96 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
96 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
96 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
96 Go to comments