Antoine Dupont’s absence was barely felt as Matthieu Jalibert produced loads of magic to assist France punch their ticket for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals by crushing Italy 60-7 on Friday.
Fly-half Jalibert’s lightning fast passing and impressed attempt lifted France to the highest of Pool A with different tries by Damian Penaud (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Peato Mauvaka, Yoram Moefana (2) and Thomas Ramos, who additionally scored 15 factors from the tee.
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Fabien Galthie’s staff, with out Dupont because the mercurial scrum-half recovers from cheekbone surgical procedure, have gained all their group video games and are more likely to face defending champions South Africa on Oct. 15, even when Ireland and Scotland are nonetheless attainable opponents for a spot within the final 4.
New Zealand, who demolished Uruguay 73-0 on the similar OL stadium on Thursday, completed second in Pool A on 15 factors, three behind France.
Italy had an enormous mountain to climb, having misplaced their final 13 matches in opposition to France, who had been on a 17-game profitable streak on residence soil.
The mountain proved a lot too excessive and, per week after Kieran Crowley’s staff suffered a 96-17 humiliation by the All Blacks, they conceded their largest defeat in opposition to their neighbours.
“Step one is finished,” France flanker and man of the match Gregory Alldritt mentioned. “We will benefit from the weekend as a result of it was a tricky sport right now. We’ll do our restoration this weekend after which put together for the quarterfinal.”
“They had been simply too bodily, too highly effective for us,” Crowley mentioned and his captain Michele Lamoro agreed. “In the event you lose the bodily battle there’s nothing you are able to do. It is so simple as that,” he added.
The half-back pairing of membership companions Maxime Lucu and Jalibert confirmed they had been greater than a substitute choice as they mixed completely all through.
The 58,102 crowd clapped alongside to Italy’s anthem, “Fratelli d’Italia”, however there was no mercy when the sport began, with Penaud dotting down on his staff’s first section of play for his thirty fourth worldwide attempt.
Ramos transformed and added a penalty to place the hosts within the driving seat.
Bielle-Biarrey then ghosted previous a few defenders to dive over after Jalibert and Penaud created a chance out of chaos within the Italian 22 metres.
It was then Ramos’s flip to the touch down after Penaud’s offload spilled into his hand, leaving the fullback to trot previous the road and convert effortlessly.
Italy made their first correct foray into French territory within the twenty sixth minute.
In an ironic reference to Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup marketing campaign, when the Azzurri beat France within the ultimate, the stadium performed the Italians’ favoured “Seven Nation Military” by the White Stripes throughout some uncommon respiratory area for the guests.
Italy, nonetheless, acquired into their stride earlier than the break, though Simone Ferrari’s attempt was dominated out after a TMO evaluation confirmed the prop’s earlier sort out on Maxime Lucu was unlawful.
The hosts added one other attempt on the stroke of half-time as Penaud collected a splendid cross-field kick from Jalibert to go over once more to turn out to be France’s second highest all-time attempt scorer, three shy of Serge Blanco’s tally of 38.
Jalibert was on the ending finish early within the second half as he finessed his means over with a dummy and a few sensible side-stepping.
Mauvaka scored France’s sixth attempt as he bundled over from a maul earlier than Galthie began to ship the replacements in.
Considered one of them, Moefana, added the seventh after being arrange within the nook by Jalibert.
Italy lastly acquired on the scoresheet because of Manuel Zuliani’s attempt, which Tommaso Allan transformed, however their slim hopes had been already lengthy gone.
Moefana added a final attempt for France and for good measure earlier than the audio system blasted out Gloria Gaynor’s hit “I Will Survive” — France’s theme music from their triumphant 1998 FIFA World Cup marketing campaign on residence soil.