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Finished North Harbour Stadium

France 47 - Japan 21

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  1. France come through Japan test

    France come through Japan test

    Japan gave France a scare in their World Cup opener at the North Harbour Stadium in Albany before they scored three late tries to win 47-21. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • France
    • Japan
    • 80+3' The kick is missed and the whistle goes. An unfair result on Japan, who let in a pair of early tries and three late on - in the rest of the match, they were the better side.
    • 80+2' TRY FOR FRANCE! 47-21 FRANCE! A breakaway try with Rougerie offloading for Parra to run it in.
    • 80' Former All Black John Kirwan, the man in charge of Japan, was so close to a famous result - but they have been swept away in the latter stages.
    • 79' A horror story in this second half then ending well for France. But there will be many questions asked by the media and team management.
    • 78' CONVERSION FOR FRANCE! 42-21 FRANCE! No problem for Yachvili.
    • 77' TRY FOR FRANCE! 40-21 FRANCE! Heymans marauds down the right to set up the chance and when the ball comes inside to David Marty, he finds Yachvili quickly who pops off a reverse pass for Pascal Pape to score. Great try.
    • 76' Top work from the Japanese forwards again, but Arlidge's enterprising pass doesn't quite come off. Time ebbs away, but they have given Les Bleus a massive scare today.
    • 75' Rougerie powerful as he drags Nicholas back from the five-metre line in the centre of the field.
    • 74' France should be okay now, you'd think, although if one converted try arrives here then there is always a chance of a draw. Attacking lineout for Japan.
    • 73' Japan come back at France, Arlidge and Nicholas combining to good effect.
    • 72' CONVERSION FOR FRANCE! 35-21 FRANCE! And Yachvili settles their nerves even more with a superb conversion from the right.
    • 71' TRY FOR FRANCE! 33-21 FRANCE! Nallet uses his head to bash his way over after a ball was delivered out of the ruck by Yachvili, with Parra also involved.
    • 70' As play shifts to the right side of the field, Parra almost bashes through the Japan defence. They are now under intense pressure.
    • 69' They kick low for touch but have a penalty anyway and therefore kick for the corner.
    • 68' France being held up before the halfway line, but quite happy you imagine to waste a few seconds.
    • 67' PENALTY FOR FRANCE! 28-21 FRANCE! Hands in the ruck from Japan and Yachvili has a simple chance to put France seven points up again.
    • 66' France lineout inside the Japanese 22. Japan make two changes, with Tanaka replaced to a standing ovation from some of the 30,000 crowd.
    • 65' What a game this is! Japan almost intercept a France pass to get in before Heymans dodges his way into the Japan half to give France a platform.
    • 64' Medard picks up near his own try-line and performs a risky step to get past a Japanese back. France eventually kick to Japanese territory.
    • 63' Japan again breaking through, flanker Michael Leitch twisting down the left.
    • 62' Ferocious tackling from the Japanese, with wing Kosuke Endo forcing a forward pass from France.
    • 61' Replacement Alisi Tupuailei fighting his way to the left flank, but spills the ball when tackled by Clerc. They are probing outside the France 22.
    • 60' Arlidge chips but it doesn't quite make touch. The crowd are loving this one, making loads of noise. France trying to run it out of defence but fail again. Skrela spills it and the France coach Marc Lievremont looks ready to murder.
    • 59' Japan have looked the better side in all areas in this half other than the scrum. And one of those is awarded to the side in red, white and black here.
    • 58' PENALTY TO JAPAN! 25-21 FRANCE! A try would now put Japan ahead - France take their time getting the game restarted.
    • 57' Japan pushed out to the 22 - and awarded a penalty at the breakdown! Will they kick to the corner... no, they will go for goal.
    • 56' Japan attacking the try-line, with France defending desperately!
    • 55' Japan absolutely stomping the French at present! Two kicks through from Tanaka and full-back Shaun Webb down each flank have had the opposition reeling.
    • 54' Full-back Cedric Heymans drops a kick forward as France begin to panic - but gets away with conceding a knock-on somehow.
    • 53' The Brave Blossoms - formerly the Cherry Blossoms - have lost all eight meetings with the world's No.4 team to date. Last time they lost 51-29 at the 2003 World Cup.
    • 52' What a performance from Japan after that early stampede from the French. The deserve to be where they are, within range of a famous result.
    • 51' France changes: Jean-Baptiste Poux, Dimitri Szarzewski and fly-half David Skrela on the pitch.
    • 50' CONVERSION FOR FRANCE! 25-18 FRANCE! Japan within a converted try of their illustrious opponents as Arlidge sends it over easily.
    • 49' TRY FOR JAPAN! 25-16 FRANCE! The brilliant Tanaka takes the ball to France and offloads to Arlidge at the right moment for him to score near the posts!
    • 48' What do you think of France's chances of winning the tournament on this evidence? Their electric start has faded somewhat.
    • 47' Japan awarded a penalty for 'sealing off' and kick clear, finding touch.
    • 46' Estebanez is hurt and receives treatment while the ref sets the French scrum in their own half.
    • 45' France start again from deep - and are being held up well by Japan.
    • 44' Lionel Nallet crashes over this time for France - again it goes to the TV ref. And again he adjudges it to have been defended successfully.
    • 44' The outcome is a scrum at the five-metre line for France. Japanese change: Nozomu Fujita on for tighthead prop Kensuke Hatakeyama.
    • 43' Imanol Harinordoquy powers to the line but is held up by two Japan players - great defence! It is referred to the video ref.
    • 42' Scrum on halfway as it doesn't go far enough. France power Japan backwards again but the latter come up with the ball. When it goes loose Clearc tries to pick up, but knocks on.
    • 41' France kick off the second half and are now attacking from right to left.
    • - And two Simon Danielli tries in the last five minutes saved Scotland from one of the all-time World Cup shocks day as they came back to beat Romania 34-24 in the opening Pool B game having trailed with six minutes to go. Scotland survive Romania scare
    • - Earlier, Fiji ran in six tries as they triumphed 49-25 over Namibia, the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, in their opening match. /// Joe: "Japan in a spirited fight back into the 1st half after¬ France raced to a 14-0 lead. Much improved Japanese defence and hit and ruck play. France with their foot on the gas look very crisp. Can they keep their mind for an entire tournament? Brilliant when on, awful when off" Fiji secure opening win
    • 40' France backed up in defence as we pass the 40-minute mark - but they hold out until half-time.
    • 39' PENALTY TO JAPAN! FRANCE 25-11! Japan have a penalty nonetheless and Arlidge kicks it to reduce the arrears.
    • 38' Explosive move from the Japanese as Shota Horie passes to Arlidge and he pops it to Nicholas... he cannot quite take the catch! They were in there and he knows it.
    • 37' And this guy looks like Ricky Gervais... Ricky
    • 36' There are some wacky faces in the crowd... all French! Hairy guy
    • 35' Yachvili misses this conversion.
    • 34' TRY FOR FRANCE! 25-8 FRANCE! A flowing move to the right out of the ruck, with each of five players well-spaced and delivering at the right time - and Clerc there to finish it off in the corner as Rougerie offloads perfectly.
    • 33' France working the ball in the Japan half, recycling with patience. Their fans are creating an excellent atmosphere inside this ground.
    • 32' He puts the kick wide - mixed fortunes for him so far. Some enterprising play and a try - but some poor kicking and he has also given away a try. /// Sorry John L - meant to write 'on to the board'
    • 31' TRY FOR JAPAN! 20-8 FRANCE! Japan driving for the corner then Arlidge looks for the grubber - it comes off a France body and the fly-half picks up the rebound and goes over to score!
    • 30' Groans from the sizeable French contingent in the crowd as an up-and-under comes straight back down to where it was kicked from - and Japan second row Luke Thompson takes the catch to set up an attack.
    • 29' PENALTY FOR FRANCE! 20-3 FRANCE! Easy for Yachvili.
    • 28' The Japanese scrum all over the place and France have the penalty. They will kick from close in.
    • 27' No.8 Ryu Holani taking the ball on inside his own 22. Japan give a scrum away.
    • 26' Scrum to France, which becomes their lineout soon after.
    • 25' This group has New Zealand, Canada and Tonga in it. Group A details
    • 24' A bit of a battle in midfield after the Japanese win lineout ball. If only they had found their feet before going a load of points down.
    • 23' Japan break quickly and Arlidge's pass is deflected out for a lineout in their favour.
    • 22' France not as flowing now as when they started the match. Japan using the ball well.
    • 20' PENALTY FOR FRANCE! 17-3 FRANCE! Yachvili slots it from a way out on the right. They could have gone for the corner there.
    • 19' Japan hooker Shota Horie with an outside-of-the-boot kick down the line... great skill to keep the ball alive.
    • 18' PENALTY FOR JAPAN! 14-3 FRANCE! Arlidge connects well with this one and Japan are on the board.
    • 17' Scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka takes a tap kick and Japan move it quickly to win another penalty within range for Arlidge.
    • 16' Japan hold firm and bring the ball to halfway before winning a penalty.
    • 15' Les Bleus kick a penalty to touch and have the lineout. They win the ball from it.
    • 14' Another breathless start to a World Cup match - France off and running and Japan must fear for the final score here.
    • 13' CONVERSION FOR FRANCE! 14-0 FRANCE! Yachvili makes no mistake from the right of the posts.
    • 12' TRY FOR FRANCE! 12-0 FRANCE! Francois Trinh-Duc intercepts an Arlidge pass on halfway - he was looking for a one-two with Nicholas - and runs it in himself.
    • 11' Fly-half Arlidge has the chance to kick Japan on to the board with an early penalty... he pulls it wide! Should have gone over.
    • 10' Nothing comes of the attack and France retake possession of the rugby ball.
    • 9' Breakout from France and Vincent Clerc hammers towards the Japanese try-line... the ball is just left behind though and Japan kick to counter.
    • 8' Penalty to France due to illegal binding in the scrum. They clear to touch.
    • 7' Japan charge down an Aurelien Rougerie clearance and James Arlidge takes it on - he passes to Ryan Nicholas, but a Frenchman is there to just get a hand to it on the 10-metre line and deny the attack.
    • 6' CONVERSION FOR FRANCE! 7-0 FRANCE! Yachvili with it.
    • 5' TRY FOR FRANCE! 5-0 FRANCE! Another powerful team move sees Japan stampede over a France player after the ball - but he still has it and instigates the successful attack. Raphael Lakafia feeds Yachvili, who seems to be in but needs Julien Pierre to finish it off.
    • 3' Thierry Dusautoir has the ball and runs it in for France after Dimitri Yachvili nicks it out of the Japanese scrum - the touch judge spots an infringement though and the try won't count.
    • 2' France streak over halfway and Fabrice Estebanez angles his run perfectly... there are men with him... Japan just stop them short.
    • 1' Under way in this match, with France attacking the end to our right.
    • - The teams are out and the national anthems ring out - La Marseillaise is, for me, the best one of the lot.
    • - Japan's side is: Shaun Webb, Kosuke Endo, Koji Taira, Ryan Nicholas, Hirotoki Onozawa, James Arlidge, Fumiaki Tanaka; Hisateru Hirashima, Shota Horie, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Luke Thompson, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Takashi Kikutani (captain), Michael Leitch, Ryukoliniasi Holani; replacements: Yusuke Aoki, Nozomu Fujita, Hitoshi Ono, Itaru Taniguchi, Atsushi Hiwasa, Murray Williams, Alisi Tupuailai
    • - France line up as follows: Cedric Heymans, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Fabrice Estebanez, Maxime Medard, Francois Trinh-Duc, Dimitri Yachvili; Fabien Barcella, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Julien Pierre, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy, Raphael Lakafia; replacements: Jean-Baptiste Poux, Dimitri Szarzewski, Pascal Pape, Julien Bonnaire, Morgan Parra, David Skrela, David Marty
    • - Welcome to the North Harbour Stadium in Albany, where France open their World Cup campaign against Japan.

  • Summary

    France versus Japan
    Pierre 5’, Trinh-Duc 12’, Clerc 34’, Nallet 71’, Papé 77’, Parra 82’ Tries Arlidge 31’, 49’
    Yachvili 6’, 13’, 72’, 79’ Conversions Arlidge 50’
    Yachvili 22’, 29’, 67’ Penalties Arlidge 18’, 40’, 58’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • France

    Manager: Marc Lievremont

    On the Field

    • Barcella Substitution Out (51′)
    • Servat Substitution Out (52′)
    • Mas
    • Pierre Try Substitution Out (73′)
    • Nallet Try
    • Dusautoir
    • Harinordoquy Substitution Out (74′)
    • Lakafia
    • Yachvili
    • Trinh-Duc Try Substitution Out (51′)
    • Médard
    • Estebanez Substitution Out (48′)
    • Rougerie
    • Clerc Try
    • Heymans

    Subs

    • Skrela Substitution In (51′) Substitution Out (62′)
    • Poux Substitution In (51′)
    • Marty Substitution In (48′)
    • Papé Substitution In (73′) Try
    • Bonnaire Substitution In (74′)
    • Szarzewski Substitution In (52′)
    • Parra Substitution In (62′) Try

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Japan

    Manager: John Kirwan

    On the Field

    • Hirashima
    • Horie
    • Hatakeyama Substitution Out (44′)
    • Thompson
    • Kitagawa
    • Kikutani
    • Leitch
    • Holani Substitution Out (36′)
    • Tanaka Substitution Out (66′)
    • Arlidge Tries×2
    • Onozawa
    • Nicholas
    • Taira Substitution Out (54′)
    • Endo
    • Webb Substitution Out (66′)

    Subs

    • Ono
    • Fujita Substitution In (44′)
    • Taniguchi Substitution In (36′)
    • Tupuailei Substitution In (54′)
    • Hiwasa Substitution In (66′)
    • Aoki
    • Williams Substitution In (66′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

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