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Raphael Ibanez feels France will learn from battling clash with Uruguay
By PA
France team manager Raphael Ibanez feels his squad will learn from having to battle past Uruguay to continue their winning start to the World Cup at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
Ibanez made 12 changes to the starting XV which had opened the tournament with an impressive victory over three-time world champions New Zealand in Paris, with Anthony Jelonch returning from a lengthy ACL injury absence to captain the team.
It was, though, far from plain sailing as an early try from Nicolas Freitas stunned the home crowd and Uruguay saw another before half-time ruled out for obstruction in the build-up.
On another night, France could have also been playing most of the match a man down after a high challenge from lock Romain Taofifenua on Santiago Arata was deemed only to be a yellow card after a review in the bunker by the TMO, Welshman Ben Whitehouse.
France eventually pulled clear in the second half when Peato Mauvaka touched down under the posts and then any hopes of a comeback from Los Teros were finally ended after 20-year-old Louis Bielle-Biarrey went over in the corner.
“It was a hard battle, but a second win for us in this competition, which is the most important,” Ibanez said, quoted on the Rugby World Cup website.
“We made some mistakes with the ball in hand and it was difficult for us to play with a good structure.
“We didn’t take the points at the end of the first half – it’s a World Cup game – and we will learn from that.”
Uruguay captain Andreas Vilaseca feels there is more to come from his side, who emerged from their first Pool A match with great credit.
“I am so proud of my team. I could not ask for a better team to lead,” he said.
“We were fighting against France, one of the best teams in the world, playing on their home ground – this is only the beginning for us.”
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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