Clement Poitrenaud makes a break (Getty Images).
LAPORTE RELISHES VICTORY
By Gareth Duggan, PA Sport, Wollongong
French coach Bernard Laporte was happy to celebrate his second-string team's
41-14 win over the United States in Wollongong and claimed he was not yet
thinking about a quarter-final against Australia or Ireland.
A team composed entirely of his strategic reserves produced a tight and
disciplined performance in the first half before being held by a more committed
American side in the second half.
"We have 10 days to prepare for the quarter-finals and I just want to
celebrate this win," said Laporte.
"We learn something from every game and we will take everything into account
for the quarter-final."
Manager Jo Maso backed his boss, saying he was particularly cheered by the
efforts of David Bory, who started the match on the left wing despite landing in
Australia from France just 48 hours earlier to replace the injured Xavier
Garbajosa.
"I was very pleased with all the players, especially David Bory, who has just
arrived from a very long trip," said Maso.
"The result for us wasn't all that important, but the will to play together
was still there and in those terms our objectives were achieved.
"The team played in a positive frame of mind and we have great respect
between the players and that's what we need to win the World Cup."
Fullback Clement Poitrenaud
"I felt very good, particularly in the first half and I am satisfied overall.
When you feel well, when the head is there, when the body goes with the head you
can do very good things," said Poitrenaud.
Meanwhile American coach Tom Billups saluted his side's efforts in the second
half, which point to a rosy future for rugby in his homeland.
"The French side are a very professional and classy outfit and the guys were
playing at the utmost levels of athleticism," said Billups, who brushed aside
suggestions that his side had been hampered by the short break from the Japan
match.
"I think the boys are very resilient. All the teams in the pool have had
short turnarounds and this just happened to be ours."
Billups was particularly pleased with the performance of his side over the
whole tournament.
"I'm a very proud man and I think we've got quite a few young players who
showed themselves to be some of the best young players at the tournament," he
said.
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