1
Young talent stars as France stun New Zealand with big win at Perth SVNS
Rising star Theo Forner has been described as “one of the most naturally talented players” in the French sevens setup after their big win over the All Blacks Sevens in Perth.
ADVERTISEMENT
Forner, 22, had only represented France at nine tournaments before taking the field at HBF Park on Friday afternoon. But it might’ve been his best performance in the famed blue jersey.
Drawn in a pool of death alongside New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa, the Frenchman shot out of the blocks with a statement 33-17 win over the All Blacks Sevens on Australia’s west coast.
A Theo Forner masterclass as @FranceRugby take the win over @nz_sevens in Perth #HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER pic.twitter.com/1vDaRiLx4a
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 26, 2024
Forner opened the scoring in just the second minute and the youngster added another score on either side of the break to secure a headline-grabbing hat-trick for France.
New Zealand couldn’t hold on. It wasn’t even that close in the end with a try to Cody Vai in the 16th minute making the score a tad more respectable for the reigning world champions.
“It feels amazing for us. The last three or four times we’ve played each other it’s been really close and they’ve edged in front,” Frenchman Aaron Grandidier Nkanang told RugbyPass.
“For us to have a good win like this today really puts us in good stead for the rest of the competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I’m so proud of him,” he added when asked about teammate Theo Forner.
“Theo is one of the most naturally talented players we have on the team so when we get to see him express himself like that, it brings us a smile to all of our faces.”
It’s an important win for Les Bleus who continue to stamp their mark on the new-look SVNS Series after a slow start in Dubai last month.
France secured a ninth-place finish with a win over Great Britain in the desert before bouncing back with an improved showing in Cape Town a week later.
But it’s all leading to the Paris Olympics in six months. Franc are the hosts and they’ll be eager to put on a show when they take the field at Stade de France.
ADVERTISEMENT
By then, France’s 15s star Antoine Dupont is expected to be among their ranks. The former World Rugby Player of the Year joined the squad in camp earlier this month for the first time.
“Any player or member of staff has to do a little initiation for us. It’s not anything particularly strange, it’s just 10 burpees,” Grandidier Nkanang said.
“He just did his burpees and we had him for the rest of the day.
“It was nice to get to meet him, to get to know him a bit better because obviously, I’ve only known him from the TV.
“I’m excited to see what he can bring to the team.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to comments