France player ratings vs Wales
A game defined by Sebastien Vahaamahina’s inexplicable elbow to Wales’ Aaron Wainwright.
In a bizarre reversal of Sam Warburton’s 2011 red card against France, it was a split-second act that will haunt Vahaamahina for the rest of his career.
France had made five changes from the side that defeated Tonga almost two weeks ago with captain Guilhem Guirado coming in for Camille Chat at hooker, second row Bernard Le Roux replaced Paul Gabrillagues who drops to the bench, nine Antoine Dupont comes in for Baptiste Serin , left-winger Yoann Huget displaces Alivereti Raka and Gael Fickou comes in at inside centre for Sofiane Guitoune; both Raka and Guitoune drop out of the 23.
Here’s how we rated the French.
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1. JEFFERSON POIROT
Brunel was one of his coaches at Bordeaux Bègles and the French national team coach clearly holds him in high regard. The co-captain gave away a neck roll penalty in the 24th minute. Sadly Inspector Poirot was unable to solve the mystery of how to win a RWC quarter-final with 14 men.
7
2. GUILHEM GUIRADO (CAPT.)
Rumours of mutiny to one side, Guirado spilled the ball that led to Wainwright’s opportunistic try that broke France’s early dominance. He was up for the fight and played his part in a largely dominant French forward pack.
6.5
3. RABAH SLIMANI
Started at tight-head prop in four of France’s five matches at RWC 2015. Tackled well in the loose. The master scrum technician didn’t get much beyond scrum parity against the Welsh.
6
Consider those bridges burned Michael. #RWC2019 https://t.co/LKL3fQswQZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
4. BERNARD LE ROUX
When he was called up in June, a knee injury had kept him out of international rugby for a year. A backrow playing in the engine room, Le Roux had a relatively quiet shift.
6
5. SEBASTIEN VAHAAMAHINA
The mammoth lock brushed aside Welsh defenders to claim France’s first try. Gave away a penalty for a high shot in front of the posts in the 19th minute, letting Wales further back into the game. Cost France a try in the 48th needlessly and got sent off for his troubles, throwing a game France deserved to win. Unforgivably stupid.
2
6. WENCESLAS LAURET
Got through a tonne of the less glamorous stuff, chasing balls down and antagonising the Welsh at every opportunity.
7
7. CHARLES OLLIVON
A huge tackle that saw him and a colleague hoist 135kg Thomas Francis into the air before dumping him backwards set the tone. Took France’s second try with immense confidence. A standout for Les Bleus.
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8. GREGORY ALLDRITT
You wouldn’t know he was a reserve in the Federale 1 just two years ago. Carried powerfully, although his lack of speed and decisiveness in passing let him down more than once.
7
9. ANTOINE DUPONT
Completely outshone Gareth Davies, the tournament’s form nine. His box kicking was assured. This Enfant Terrible is a joy to watch and will go on to be a French great.
8.5
10. ROMAIN NTAMACK
It’s his ability to play make on the line that separates Ntamack from mere mortals. However, you need to kick your points in knock out rugby and his missed kicks at goal will have annoyed the young Toulousain. You can’t spurn six kickable points in a RWC quarter-final. Didn’t come back on in the secondhalf, a real blow for France.
7.5
11. YOANN HUGET
A quiet first half for one of rugby union’s chief pantomime villains. Intercepted the ball in the 64th minute with the Welsh threatening the line. Easily worth 2 of his 6 points alone.
6
12. GAEL FICKOU
Part of an early assault on Wales defense and looked sharp. The victim of a yellow card hit from Moriarty, but it didn’t slow down the Frenchman was a constant threat and was the catalyst for most of France’s most incisive attacks.
8
13. VIRIMI VAKATAWA
Made a blistering break for Ollivion’s try. Got into George North’s face too. Picked a beautiful line off Penaud for his try and always made metres with ball in hand and Welsh players on his back. Will have left a number of Welsh defenders with PTSD.
8.5
14. DAMIAN PENAUD
Mixed the brilliant with the bizarre. Attempted to volley the ball with the line beckoning when a retaining possession would have been preferable. Needs to temper his enthusiasm. A vast talent no doubt but he needs to grow up a bit and bin the histrionics.
6.5
15. MAXIME MEDARD
The old man of the French backs. He didn’t always win his kicking battles but he was a steady influence from fullback. Some questionable decision making when France looked to kill the game 20 minutes out.
7.5
16. CAMILLE CHAT
Mr Neck came off the bench in France’s opening round victory over Argentina, and started against USA and Tonga. Was powerful in contact, carrying with menace.
7.5
17. CYRIL BAILLE
Sits behind Poirot, one of Les Bleus’ co-captains, in the pecking order at loose-head prop. Did nothing wrong in his time on the pitch.
6
18. EMERICK SETIANO
Was uncapped when he was called up for France’s initial World Cup squad in June. Played his part in a short cameo.
6
19. PAUL GABRILLAGUES
Came on for La Roux. Didn’t do enough to rate.
NA
20. LOUIS PICAMOLES
One of only two players in France’s squad in a third successive World Cup, alongside captain Guilhem
Guirado. One impressive carry aside, not on long enough to rate.
NA
21. BAPTISTE SERIN
A bit of a super-sub, having made four replacement appearances at scrum-half in the 2019 Six Nations. Not on long enough to rate.
NA
22. CAMILLE LOPEZ
Carried on Ntamack’s kick missing exploits. Other than that kept the Frenchman from self-destructing, a major task for any French 10.
6
23. VINCENT RATTEZ
NA
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