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Rugby fans go in on 'the most French performance ever' after stuttering, limp effort against USA

Louis Picamoles of France is tackled by Titi Lamositele and Tony Lamborn of the United States. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

After Japan’s win over Ireland just days old, many watching were entertaining the thought that the USA Eagles would do the same against France.

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For 60 minutes the USA pushed an underwhelming French side as the Americans trialed by just three points at 12-9 before a final flurry saw France take a bonus-point win 33-9 in the last 20 minutes.

The French performance has been widely criticised by fans in the aftermath for being discernibly ‘French’, with a limp effort against the USA. One fan wrote ‘the worse France play now, the better they’ll play against England’ expecting that in typically French fashion they will show up for the bigger clash.

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Rugby fans on Twitter blasted the showing, with another fan confident Wales have ‘absolutely nothing to fear’ over a potential quarter-final match-up.

https://twitter.com/theblitzdefence/status/1179331024741949440

The USA were able to wrestle their way into the game through a disciplined performance, not conceding a penalty until the 36th minute while the French constantly infringed, handing the opposition ball and territory.

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They were well in the game thanks to compounding French errors and penalties with three AJ McGinty penalties keeping the Eagles within striking distance of France scored two tries early from kicks from Cammy Lopez.

After emptying the bench, a Gael Fickou try sparked a rally in which France scored their bonus-point try and ran away to finish well-ahead on the scoreboard despite the tense contest.

“The ball was very slippery and we made many mistakes and allowed them to counter, and they had a very tough defence too,” head coach Jacques Brunel said after the game.

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“We gave away many penalties which we should have avoided. In the maul, there were many problems.”

Number 8 Louis Picamoles said they have many things to work on but was happy they were able to overcome their mistakes.

“It didn’t work as well as we thought it would, in the first half there were so many mistakes, but we did not panic and we overcame adversity and were able to gain the bonus point. We have many things to work on,” he said.

“It was disappointing that we committed so many fouls.”

Prop Cyril Baille said the side was never afraid of losing the match but did have to question what was going on.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HHHnHAi6v/

“We weren’t afraid, although it is true that we asked ourselves some questions when it was 12-9 after 60 minutes. We told ourselves that we had to wake up and go after tries. That’s what we did: the reaction of the team was perfect,” he said.

France now sits in second place in Pool C, one competition behind England who will face Argentina in a survival match on Saturday.

The Pumas will have to beat England to be any chance to make the quarterfinals after losing to France in their opening game. France plays Tonga next week before the decisive clash against England that could decide who tops the Pool.

Stephen Ferris Rugby World Cup memories:

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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