EvanL
07-09-2004, 02:56 PM
TORONTO (AFP) - After last weekend's unconvincing win over the United States, France meet Canada on Saturday with a host determined to bolster defences and blood newcomers ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
AFP/File Photo
The last time the two sides met on Canadian soil, the Canucks scored a hard-fought 18-16 win, and captain Kevin Tkachuk expects a tough match this time around.
"France appears to have an inexperienced side on this tour, from what we have seen from watching the US game," said Tkachuk.
"They won't have been happy with their performance against the US and the pressure will be on them to improve. So, I expect them to be a much stronger team when they play us on Saturday."
France leaked five tries in their 39-31 defeat of the United States last Saturday, but coach Bernard Laporte vowed the defence would be more resolute against Canada.
"We have worked a lot on defensive organisation in general but also on the tackling area, an aspect in which we will have to perform a lot better.
"We will also have to improve our ball retention," said Laporte, who has made six changes to the side that played the United States.
Canadian coach Ric Suggitt said his team was "currently in a process of reconstruction. We have included some players playing in Europe and I think they'll bring us a lot."
But French teams "have confidence in themselves and in what they do. They are capable of launching attacks from wherever on the pitch.
"We want to attack early in the game and we know France comes on strong in the latter stages, so we think we have the team that can attack and defend," said Suggitt.
Teams
Canada (15-1): Quentin Fyffe; Marco Di Girolamo, Ryan Smith, John Cannon, Stirling Richmond; Jared Barker, Morgan Williams; Stan McKeen, Mike Webb, Phil Murphy; Colin Yukes, Jamie Cudmore; Forrest Gainer, Aaron Abrams, Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements: Mark Lawson, Jon Thiel, Mike Burak, Jim Douglas, Ed Fairhurst, Mike Danskin, Derek Daypuck
France: Clement Poitrenaud; Philippe Bidabe, Tony Marsh, Brian Liebenberg, Aurelien Rougerie; Alexandre Peclier, Ludovic Loustau; Thomas Lievremont, Bernard Goutta, Yannick Nyanga; Pascal Pape, Fabien Pelous (capt); Pieter de Villiers, William Servat, Arnaud Martinez
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Olivier Milloud, David Couzinet, Pierre Rabadan, Mathieu Barrau, Julien Peyrelongue, Cedric Heymans
Kick-off: 2:00 p.m. (1935 GMT)
AFP/File Photo
The last time the two sides met on Canadian soil, the Canucks scored a hard-fought 18-16 win, and captain Kevin Tkachuk expects a tough match this time around.
"France appears to have an inexperienced side on this tour, from what we have seen from watching the US game," said Tkachuk.
"They won't have been happy with their performance against the US and the pressure will be on them to improve. So, I expect them to be a much stronger team when they play us on Saturday."
France leaked five tries in their 39-31 defeat of the United States last Saturday, but coach Bernard Laporte vowed the defence would be more resolute against Canada.
"We have worked a lot on defensive organisation in general but also on the tackling area, an aspect in which we will have to perform a lot better.
"We will also have to improve our ball retention," said Laporte, who has made six changes to the side that played the United States.
Canadian coach Ric Suggitt said his team was "currently in a process of reconstruction. We have included some players playing in Europe and I think they'll bring us a lot."
But French teams "have confidence in themselves and in what they do. They are capable of launching attacks from wherever on the pitch.
"We want to attack early in the game and we know France comes on strong in the latter stages, so we think we have the team that can attack and defend," said Suggitt.
Teams
Canada (15-1): Quentin Fyffe; Marco Di Girolamo, Ryan Smith, John Cannon, Stirling Richmond; Jared Barker, Morgan Williams; Stan McKeen, Mike Webb, Phil Murphy; Colin Yukes, Jamie Cudmore; Forrest Gainer, Aaron Abrams, Kevin Tkachuk
Replacements: Mark Lawson, Jon Thiel, Mike Burak, Jim Douglas, Ed Fairhurst, Mike Danskin, Derek Daypuck
France: Clement Poitrenaud; Philippe Bidabe, Tony Marsh, Brian Liebenberg, Aurelien Rougerie; Alexandre Peclier, Ludovic Loustau; Thomas Lievremont, Bernard Goutta, Yannick Nyanga; Pascal Pape, Fabien Pelous (capt); Pieter de Villiers, William Servat, Arnaud Martinez
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Olivier Milloud, David Couzinet, Pierre Rabadan, Mathieu Barrau, Julien Peyrelongue, Cedric Heymans
Kick-off: 2:00 p.m. (1935 GMT)