British spoil French party

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 26

British spoil French party

NZPA-Reuter Paris The British Home Unions spoiled French celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution with a 29-27 win yesterday to hand France its first defeat at the Parc des Princes in seven years. Only a strong comeback by France in the second half prevented an embarrassingly big loss to a British XV which was well under the strength of the Lions party which beat Australia in July.

Two tries from the Scottish full back, Gavin Hastings, and another from the captain and first five-eighths, Rob Andrew, were a relatively scant reward for the visitors’ dominance.

With four penalty goals and a conversion, Hastings scored 22 points.

France, which trailed 16-9 at half-time and 23-9, 10 minutes into the second half, mustered few attacks but scored three tries through the full-back, Serge Blanco, his thirtieth for his country, 21-year-old Philippe Benetton and the first five-eighths, Didier Camberabero. ( France got off to a disastrous start when Andrew, taking a pass from the centre, Jeremy Guscott, scored the opening try after little more than a minute of play. Hastings converted and added two penalty goals to ' give the Home Unions a 12-0 lead after only 20 minutes against a totally disorganised French

AV. But late in the first period, the French started to combine and Blanco profited from the first spell of sustained pressure, taking a pass from Benetton before selling a dummy to Scott Hastings to score his team’s first try in the thirty-seventh minute.

The Home Unions were dominating the inexperienced French forwards in the scrums, rucks and mauls. The experimental French pack, containing seven players with only nine previous caps between them, looked ragged and disjointed throughout. Hastings powered his way through on the right touchline for another try in the forty-fifth minute and added his second only six minutes later after Blanco was caught in possession. Benetton, served by Pierre Berbizier, reduced the arrears with a 58th minute try but Andrew’s dropped goal four minutes later gave the Home Unions an almost unassailable 26-15 lead.

It was only from then on that France really began to play. Camberabero, one of the few successful experiments of the coach, Jacques Fouroux, scored two penalty goals to bring his team within five points. But Hastings killed them off with a penalty goal four

minutes from the end and Camberabero’s late try, which he converted himself with the last kick of the match, was too late. Camberabero scored 19 points and has almost certainly guaranteed himself a regular place in a team which has been crying out for a reliable goalkicker.

It was France’s first defeat in Paris since England won in 1982. The Home Unions coach, lan Mcgeechan, said after the game: “The team had a confident air about them tonight. It shows how much we learned in Australia. “This, combined with the Australian tour, has put British rugby in a very positive state of mind. It’s a psychological boost for British rugby,” he added. The captain, Rob Andrew, said the win would encourage the four home unions before this year’s Five Nations championship.

"Not one member of this team had ever won in Paris before. It does a lot for players to come here and take the game to the French, which is what they usually do with visitors.” Mr Fouroux said he was not too upset with the rare defeat and that he would continue his experimental squad. “We are running in this team and that policy will continue against the Australians next month.”