Laporte happy as France race into quarter-finals 01/10/2007 00:00

1 October 2007

MARSEILLE (AFP) - France coach Bernard Laporte was a satisfied man after seeing his side score a vital bonus-point 64-7 win over Georgia to ensure their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

France scored nine tries to one, with the third-choice outside-half Lionel Beauxis notching up a personal tally of 24 points in a dominant display.

The French came into the game knowing that a win with a bonus point over Georgia would send them through to the last eight.

However, with Argentina beating Ireland 30-15 in Paris, it's the Pumas who top Pool D and will face Scotland in the last eight while France finished second and must travel to Cardiff to take on the All Blacks.

"Congratulations to the players in the French team," said Laporte. "The aim was to win with the bonus point to ensure qualification, and that's been done."

"It was good. We scored more than 60 points. We got over the gain line, and we enjoyed good possession.

"I'm very proud of the spirit shown throughout the match.

"It was a match full of imperfections but the perfect match doesn't exist. On the whole I'm satisfied with our performance."

Laporte said the performances of Beauxis, and back trio Yannick Jauzion, Christophe Dominici and Pierre Mignoni, who were dropped after France's opening 17-12 loss to Argentina, were encouraging.

"There were some good individual performances. Lionel Beauxis had a good game, particularly with his kicking," the coach said.

"Up front, there were quite dominant and played as a unit. Jean-Baptiste (Elissalde) made a good impact when he came on (for Mignoni), but Mignoni also started well. We rediscovered the determination of Jauzion and Dominici."

Dominici, the aging Stade Francais winger, had a great all-round game, and was rewarded with two well-taken tries.

"It's the first time we have played with the sun shining on our backs and we really wanted to please the fans," Dominici said.

"We went out to play an open game and put the Georgians on the back foot. We went out looking for tries and to enjoy ourselves and now we can't wait to see who we will get in the quarter-finals."

Beauxis, 21, said the objective of Les Bleus had been achieved.

"We really wanted to have a big game and we are very satisfied. We took a lot of pleasure on the field," he said.

The outside-half, also second choice to squad member David Skrela at his club Stade Francais, added: "I always have my cards to play and I will take full advantage of my opportunity."

Laporte said his side were over the disappointment of losing to Argentina in the opening game.

"It was a big exception. We didn't enter the competition as we wanted, but now we have played three games as we wanted. Argentina was an exception."

AFP

Subject: French news