FRANCE 82 IRELAND 26
IAN GOLDEN, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Friday

FRANCE showed their skills in the second half to pull away from a plucky Ireland side and seal their place in Friday’s World Cup Final.

The French didn’t have it all their own way in the first half. Like against England, Ireland came out to show they meant business, but just as in that group match, couldn’t keep up the pressure for the full 80 minutes.

They caused all the early trouble. Mel Griffith was tagged when close to the line, then Joe Calcott had the same done to him when diving to ground.

Ireland followed that up by winning a goalline drop-out, but fumbled from that and France took advantage by taking the lead through a Léo Hivernat try that he converted himself.

Ireland soon got their first try. Calcott did well to avoid being tagged as he waited for Peter Johnston to get into position, and the Birmingham player did just that and he scored in the corner, but couldn’t convert his own try.

But France soon extended their lead with two quick tries. First Jonathan Hivernat scored in the corner, then Damien Doré went over. Nicolas Clausells converted the second of the tries to give France a 16-4 lead.

Ireland pulled a try back through Cian Horgan, that he failed to convert, and despite putting pressure on the French line, they couldn’t immediately pull another try back.

Instead, the French extended their lead after Nicolas Clausells found a gap to score. He couldn’t convert his own try, but he did land the extras a few minutes later after Dany Denuwelaere crossed for the first of a phenomenal six-try haul.

Jack Mangan got a try back for Ireland on 37 minutes, with Oran Spain adding the extras, but there was still time for Denuwelaere to score his second, which Nicolas Clausells converted to put France 32-14 up at the break.

Denuwelaere grabbed his hat-trick just 80 seconds after the restart and Doré then scored a quick brace to follow suit. Nicolas Clausells added two goals to put France 34 points up and out of sight.

A Denuwelaere try and Nicolas Clausells goal increased the lead further, then from kick-off, as if not to be out-done, Doré sped through for his fourth try of the match. Nicolas Clausells converted to put the score on to 60-14 on 54 minutes.

Three minutes later, Gilles Clausells got into the act with a try of his own which his nephew duly converted.

Ireland were finding it hard to touch the ball. Doré and Denuwelaere went back-to-back adding further salt into Irish wounds. Léo Hivernat kicked two goals to put the score on to 78-14.

But when Ireland regained possession, they immediately scored after Horgan brilliantly dived onto a grubber to score in the corner, which Spain converted.

Denuwelaere added his sixth try of the game on 66 minutes, but Ireland hit back again as Calcott stormed over. Spain converted again and whilst Ireland were definitely out of the contest, they weren’t lying down.

They even kept France scoreless in the final ten minutes and held their heads up high at the end.

GAMESTAR: Dany Denuwelaere entered the match on 28 minutes and it was his skill which gave France the extra edge.

GAMEBREAKER: From the second-half kick-off, France got three quick tries and took the upper hand.

MATCHFACTS

FRANCE
1 Gilles Clausells
2 Damien Doré
3 Léo Hivernat
4 Nicolas Clausells
5 Jonathan Hivernat
Subs (all used)
6 Adrien Zittel
7 Dany Denuwelaere
9 Guillaume Dubruel

Tries: L Hivernat (6), J Hivernat (15), Doré (19, 43, 46, 53, 59), N Clausells (28), Denuwelaere (32, 39, 42, 52, 61, 66), G Clausells (57)
Goals: L Hivernat 3/5, N Clausells 8/10

IRELAND
9 Joe Calcott
12 Jack Mangan
2 Cian Horgan
8 Peter Johnston
5 Mel Griffith
Subs (all used)
1 Oran Spain
6 Tom Martin
7 Phil Roberts

Tries: Johnston (12), Horgan (22, 64), Mangan (37), Calcott (70)
Goals: Johnston 0/1, Horgan 0/1, Spain 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 10-4, 16-4, 16-8, 20-8, 26-8, 26-14, 32-14; 36-14, 42-14, 48-14, 54-14, 60-14, 66-14, 72-14, 78-14, 78-20, 82-20, 82-26

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Players of the Match
France: Dany Denuwelaere; Ireland: Joe Calcott

Penalty count: 4-6
Half-time: 32-14
Referees: Rebecca Whiteley and Stephane Vincent