French Rugby Players “Master Opportunists"

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 22

French Rugby Players “Master Opportunists"

(N.Z, Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 10 pjn.) LONDON, April 12. "Every club in the British Isles must learn Rugby the French way. If they don't, it will be France’s international title for the next 10 years. Our dreary orthodoxy just can’t live with this team of master opportunists.” These comments were voiced by Mr W. Jeffares, secretary of the Irish Rugby Union, commenting on Ireland’s defeat by France in Paris by 23 points to 6. AH Rugby correspondents have nothing but praise for the French and there are several flat assertions that the All Blacks will have to look to their laurels when the Frenchmen tour New Zealand in 1961. The match in Paris was described as the fastest international' of the season and "tremendous entertainment’’ "The Times” correspondent said: “Recently we have become accustomed to French effervescence, but now they have excelled themselves. Fast fit and feline in their litheness, it was again their forwards who dominated the issue.

“Once more, the kingpin of the whole French structure of success was the fact that whatever happened and wherever it happened, there were always at hand Frenchmen to spare in driving the game forward at breakneck speed. Ireland were never given a moment’s respite

and when they themselves took the initiative they found Frenchmen hurling themselves at them from all angles with slaughter in their hearts.

“This French pack was quite phenomenal. Though big and burly, every one of them was as fast and lissom as a wing threequarter and belief was taxed to the utmost in seeing a front-row forward score a try direct from a scrummage on the half-way line. They were quick-witted enough to counter Irish plans to frustrate the enornjous leaping of Momipejat, in particular, in the lineout and in the loose every one of them was a devil incarnate.” A feature of the match was the three field goals by the tall flyhalf, P. Albaladejo, who played at full-back against England in 1954. It was the first time any player has kicked three field goals in an international. It is said he has flat feet and fallen arches and wears specially-built shoes off the field, but there was nothing suspect about his kicking.” Ireland’s captain, R. Dawson, commented: “Trying to hold the French with 15 men was the devil of a job. When Andy Mulligan went off with a brace of cracked ribs, it was an impossibility.” Although England shares the championship with France, Rugby writers candidly admit that England should be glad there is no play-off for the title.