Player Ratings: France

OPINION: France made it three from three in Lille, but anyone glancing only at the 33-8 scoreline would be forgiven for assuming this was a procession – it was not.

For 20 minutes, it looked like it might be. After that, Italy dragged this into a Skandenbergesque arm wrestle and France were more than willing participants. Fabien Galthie’s side were slick early, then strangely ragged, their clinical edge blunted until a late burst flattered the hosts.

Ian Cameron rates France players:

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros – 5.5
Defensively resolute early on, turning away Italian carriers like a nightclub bouncer with a strict guest list. The scrum, however, did not go his way and he was replaced on 37 minutes as Italy began to apply serious pressure.

2. Julien Marchand – 6.5
Caught holding on inside six minutes and conceded a cheap penalty. Worked diligently at maul time but was part of a front row that was put under the cosh in the second half before making way for Mauvaka.

3. Dorian Aldegheri – 5
An old-school tighthead who struggled to impose himself. Offered little in the loose and was obliterated by Danilo Fischetti just before the break. Italy’s scrum ascendency after half-time reflected poorly on his shift before he was relieved of duty.

4. Thibaud Flament – 8
Excellent at the lineout, both as a target and disruptor. Stole a crucial Italian throw on 44 minutes and provided calm in a game that threatened to slip into chaos. One of France’s most composed performers.

5. Emmanuel Meafou – 8.5
Some beastly early carries from the 140kg lock set the tone. Bulldozed over from five metres after a perfectly weighted Antoine Dupont pass and even managed a clearance kick from his own in-goal. A menace throughout.

6. Francois Cros – 7
The unglamorous warrior. Tackled, cleared, repeated. Rarely noticed, rarely beaten. France needed that industry once the game descended into trench warfare.

7. Oscar Jegou – 5.5
Busy without always being effective. Ignored a glaring overlap on 47 minutes and later knocked on in contact as France built momentum. Stuffed mauls and did nuisance work but errors dented his rating.

8. Anthony Jelonch – 7
A quiet first half but grew into the contest. Two dominant tackles after the interval and little obviously wrong in a combative display before being replaced on 74 minutes.

9. Antoine Dupont – 8.5
Impeccable in his pass selection. His flat delivery put Meafou over and his early kick ahead created the opening try. Defensively aggressive, snapping at Italian heels. Even when France were wobbling he conjured attacks from nothing. Withdrawn on 75 minutes with the job largely done.

10. Thomas Ramos – 7
Drafted in at flyhalf after Matthieu Jalibert’s late withdrawal, it was a mixed bag. Kicked out on the full on 11 minutes and had a pass intercepted. Produced a perfect 50:22 and finished a sharp move for France’s second try. His outrageous slap back in-goal gifted Italy their score. Redeemed himself with the crossfield assist for Drean. Sublime and sloppy in equal measure.

11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – 7
Profited from Dupont’s early kick to score on four minutes, his pace too much for Italy. After that, influence waned. Still looked threatening in broken play but opportunities dried up.

12. Fabien Brau-Boirie – 7.5
Carried with real punch and matched brute force with tidy footwork. Tackled like a cyborg who had overridden his programming. Lost the ball on 62 minutes when a try beckoned, which hurt, but his offloading game was impressive.

13. Emilien Gailleton – 8
Electric on the break for a big body, slicing through on 28 minutes to spark Ramos’ try. Fell off a few tackles defensively, yet his late score on 77 minutes capped a performance that was way more good than bad. Dragging an Italian tackler into touch on 81 minutes summed up his edge.

14. Gael Drean – 7
A debut of real substance. Opened with two ferocious back-to-back hits that set Lille alight. Nearly scored before half-time with an optimistic outside arc that ended in touch. Took his try brilliantly from Ramos’ crossfield kick. Looked anything but overawed.

15. Theo Attissogbe – 7
Lost the aerial contest before the opening try but was not at fault as the ball fell kindly for Dupont. Produced a lovely kick after a strong take on 16 minutes. Looked more comfortable on the wing than at full-back, turning over too much ball to score any higher.

Replacements:

16. Peato Mauvaka – 7
Added dynamism with ball in hand and carried with venom. Gave France fresh impetus when the arm wrestle threatened to bog them down completely.

17. Rodrigue Neti – 5.5
Marginally better than Aldegheri but still struggled as Italy began to monster the scrum in the second half.

18. Georges-Henri Colombe – 6
Conceded a penalty but was no worse than what had gone before. Held up adequately under pressure.

19. Charles Ollivon – 6
On for Cros and brought experience, though the contest had already tightened considerably.

20. Mickael Guillard – NA
Too little time to make a meaningful impression.

21. Lenni Nouchi – 7
Lively and physical, not far behind Mauvaka in impact. Added energy in the loose exchanges.

22. Baptiste Serin – NA
Came on late with the game stretched.

23. Pierre-Louis Barassi – 6
Solid without headline moments.

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