France 46 Canada 19:LEAKED POINTS in the last five minutes of each half cost Canada any hope of upsetting World Cup Pool A heavyweights France yesterday, according to coach Kieran Crowley.
The Canadians had matched the heavily-favoured French for 60 minutes at McLean Park, never allowing them to get away, although a constant stream of penalties by referee Craig Jourbert kept France marginally ahead throughout.
However a Damien Traille try extended France’s lead from 25-19 to 32-19 and they then blew the scoreline out in the final five minutes when Vincent Clerc finished off two well-executed tries to secure a 46-19 victory for the French.
Former New Zealand All Black Crowley, while praising his team’s efforts, was still bitterly disappointed after the game.
“We came here to win and we didn’t come here to make up numbers,” Crowley said.
“You can walk around and get pats on the back and get told you did well but if you accept those you’re never going to improve.
“Our attitude . . . was coming here to win and we didn’t and we’re very disappointed.”
Crowley said the final five minutes of the first half, when France scrumhalf Morgan Parra kicked three penalties, and the final five of the game, when Clerc scored his two tries, had been critical.
