France player ratings vs Italy
France player ratings: France were on a hiding to nothing in this match against a heavily unfancied if developing Italian outfit in Paris.
The Italians won’t get the credit they deserve for what was a very positive performance, which forced errors from a young French side.
That said, it was a frustrating French performance that varied widely from the excellent to the farcical.
ANTHONY BOUTHIER 7.5
Backed up his enormous performance in Le Crunch with another tidy shift in Paris. The combination of his artillery gun boot and a diligent kick-chase game make him a potent force in the French backfield. Why he’s only started his Test career at the age of 27 is baffling. Beautiful line and pass in the 76th minute that nearly saw France cross.
Continue reading below…
WATCH: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones press conference following their defeat to Ireland in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
TEDDY THOMAS 5
Took his early try well, thanks to a great kick and some clever blocking by Vincent. A few uncharacteristic spills early on and was AWOL beyond the ball for the Italian’s 25th-minute try.
ARTHUR VINCENT 6
Came in for an injured Vakatawa and while he doesn’t offer the Racing 92 man’s threat levels with ball in hand, the 20-year-old didn’t look out of place on debut. He did just enough to block a defender for Teddy Thomas’ sixth minute try.
The finisher… Teddy Thomas shows why he's one of the most dangerous wingers in world rugby #FRAvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/sM3lOSyKui
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 9, 2020
GAËL FICKOU 5.5
Gave away a penalty in the first half. He’s defensively sound but you can’t help but feel we’re not getting all there is to get from Fickou.
VINCENT RATTEZ 5
Was a little indecisive on occasion when harried by the Italians. Largely kept in check by the Italians. Injured late on.
ROMAIN NTAMACK 7.5
Mixed the sublime with the ridiculous. Unlucky not to score in the 17th minute and his love-hate relationship with the crossbar and posts didn’t help him in windy conditions. Had a great battle with the underrated Tomasso Allan. His 58th-minute solo effort was magnificent.
Jouez, jouez…@FranceRugby doing what they do best, with a brilliant try for Romain Ntamack#FRAvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/6wehBi2jAd
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 9, 2020
ANTOINE DUPONT 8.5
All over everything, again. His break in the 17th minute directly led to a try for his captain, Ollivon. Missed a tackle directly in the lead up to Minozzi’s try but minutes later a superb pass put No.8 Alldritt over just before halftime. He’s the form 9 in the world rugby.
CYRIL BAILLE 6
A relatively quiet day at the office but he made metres with every carry, averaging 1.3 post contact metres over the course of eight carries.
JULIEN MARCHAND 6
Again, a little bit wobbly with his darts, albeit in uncharitable weather conditions. Made up with it in the loose.
MOHAMED HAOUAS 7.5
Didn’t get it all his own way in the scrums. Carries explosively for a 127kg unit. The Montpellier prop looked to the manor born in his second Test outing.
BERNARD LE ROUX 7
France’s workhorse in the engine room. He tackled all day but was one of a number of French men that gave away a needless penalty.
PAUL WILLEMSE 8
One of the big man’s best games for France. His slimmed-down frame suits the 6’7 lock and it was evident with ball in hand. He’s better known for piano shifting but this was a performance that showed he’s not just a big body. Surprisingly replaced at 43 minutes.
FRANCOIS CROS 7
A weapon for France in the lineouts, which isn’t a area of strength for Les Bleus. A more than competent carrier but a tackle completion rate of 66 per cent will irk.
CHARLES OLLIVON (CAPTAIN) 7
The skipper made it onto the scoreboard yet again, albeit a short range effort on this occasion. Needed to take hold of a Les Bleus side that took their eye off the ball in the final 30 minutes, going full French.
Never go full French.
GREGORY ALLDRITT 7
An important turnover at 16 – 10 gave France some breathing space. In the right place at the right time for his try just before halftime. Didn’t repeat the MOTM heroics of last week but it was enough to consolidate his considerable grasp on the shirt.
REPLACEMENTS:
PEATO MAUVAKA 5
Went over the top on the Italian replacement hooker for their Azzurri’s second-half try, although Alldritt was the pillar defender. Got popped in the scrums too.
JEFFERSON POIROT 5
Came on with Bamba in the 57th minute. He didn’t get so many opportunities to carry but remained busy. Again, the scrum looked worse with the trio of Poirot, Bamba and Mauvaka on.
DEMBA BAMBA 5
Questions remain to be answered about his scrummaging – which he will no doubt answer. Pinged for a late high shot, which could have earned a yellow. Still learning his trade.
ROMAIN TAOFIFENUA 6.5
Replaced Willemse just after halftime. Won every collision he was involved in, which is hardly surprising for the 6’8, 133kg mammoth. Got pinged once but wiped his face with an excellent poach in the 57th minute.
CAMERON WOKI 6
The game had disintegrated by the time Woki came on and his French teammates had completely gone off the boil with the game more or less in the bag.
BAPTISTE SERIN 8
Managed to score a fantastic solo try late on. What more can you ask of a sub? He’d be starting for any other team in this competition if it wasn’t for Dupont.
If you want something doing…
Replacement scrum-half Baptiste Serin goes from halfway with a magnificent solo try for @FranceRugby#FRAvITA #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/X2cI9Y837c
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 9, 2020
MATTHIEU JALIBERT NA
Not on long enough to rate.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments