France secure vital bonus point win over spirited Canada

France secured a crucial bonus point in the race to top Pool D as they beat a valiant Canada side 41-18 in front of a record crowd at Stadium MK.

Tries from Wesley Fofana and Guilhem Guirado inside the first half an hour gave France a 17-0 lead but, Canada fought back in an astonishing five minutes just before half-time.

Scores from DTH Van Der Merwe and Aaron Carpenter put them within five points of Les Bleus, but a try from Rabah Slimani settled France’s nerves as they went into the interval 24-12 up.

The game started with a slower tempo in the opening stages of the second period which suited France, but Canada were still very much in the contest as neither team threatened too much.

Fly-half Nathan Hirayama and man-of-the match Michalak exchanged penalties before lock Pascal Pape barged his way over from close range on 66 minutes to secure that all important bonus point for the French.

Phillppe Saint Andre’s men  then wrapped up proceedings seven minutes from time as Remy Grosso crossed in the corner to score on his debut.

In fairness, the score-line didn’t reflect how well Canada played and the North Americans were well in the contest at the start of the second half, but in the end France proved too strong

France now top Pool D with 14 points, but they have played a game more than Ireland who are currently on 10 points. Joe Schmidt’s side are next in action on Sunday against Italy at the Olympic Stadium.

France’s final pool match is the showdown with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium next Sunday as both sides will be desperate to finish top of the pool as it is likely that the runner-up will face World Champions New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

Les Bleus controlled the opening 30 minutes under the lights in Milton Keynes with Michalak seemingly at the heart of everything his side did.

He created Fofana’s try – which was the quickest scored at this tournament so far- after showing a lovely step and offload, before nearly creating a second for the centre with a superbly weighted chip, but Fofana couldn’t gather.

Michalak converted the try and he then slotted over a penalty moments after, which made him France’s all-time record points scorer in Rugby World Cup history – surpassing Thierry Lacox’s previous total of 124.

Guirado then smashed his way over from close range and France looked untroubled. Then came the Canada response.

Van Der Merwe showed exquisite feet to slide in the corner after a great take from the restart by Ciaran Hearn while Carpenter used brute force to score his try. All of sudden, Canada  were right back in the contest.

The Stadium MK crowd were right behind the Canucks which created a superb atmosphere , but when Slimani scored his second try of the World Cup just before the break, the French were happy enough to go in 12 points ahead.

Canada then came out fighting in the second period and were within six points of France when Hirayama pinged over a penalty.

But despite, Canada putting in another valiant display against a Tier One nation, France proved too good for them and secured the bonus point as Pape touched down.

And they were home and dry when Grosso, called up for the injured Yoann Huget, crossed the whitewash on debut.

Line-ups

France: Scott Spedding; Remy Grosso, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani; Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri; Thierry Dusautoir (captain) Bernard Le Roux, Damien Chouly.

Replacements: Alexandre Dumoulin, Remi Tales, Morgan Parra, Vincent Debaty, Benjamin Kayser, Nicolas Mas, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo.

Tries: Fofana, Guirado, Slimani, Pape, Grosso

Cons: Michalak (4), Parra

Pen: Michalak (2)

Canada: Matt Evans; Phil Mackenzie, Ciaran Hearn, Nick Blevins, DTH van der Merwe; Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mack; Hubert Buydens, Aaron Carpenter, Doug Wooldridge; Brett Beukeboom, Jamie Cudmore; Kyle Gilmour, Richard Thorpe, Tyler Ardron (captain).

Replacements: Ray Barkwill, Djustice Sears-Duru, Andrew Tidermann, Evan Olmstead, Nanyak Dala, Gordon McRorie, Harry Jones, Conor Trainor

Tries: Van der Merwe, Carpenter

Con: Hirayama

Pens: Hirayama (2)