France 61 Fiji 18

France beat Fiji 61-18 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in the first Pool B match of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.  Les Bleus got five points from the match, Fiji none.  But while it was a match that soared on glorious highs it also plunged into an unsightliness which may well have unpleasant consequences.

The ecstasy came with Rupeni Caucaunibuca's try.  The unpleasantness came when Caucaunibuca -- and others -- took time out to express anger outside of the laws of the game, with the winger flooring Olivier Magne, a much bigger man.

There was a time when Fiji looked zestful and confident.  Then the zest seemed to dribble from their legs as the composed French used the ball to take the game far away from the Islanders, scoring five tries in the last 24 minutes after Fiji had burst back to 24-18 early in the second half.

The match started with penalties.  Two against France for diving on their own ball gave Fiji the lead after four minutes, but then one against a Fijian tackler and one against a scrum collapse made it 6-3 to France after 10 minutes.

At this stage Fiji were using what possession they could get to move the ball -- sensibly and understandably -- to their speedy wings.  They were the first to score a try largely thanks to a French wing and the Fijian scorer.

Aurélien Rougerie, the best attacking player in the half, kicked out of defence.  It was an execrable kick that sailed across towards his left.  Aisea Tuilevu got the bouncing ball and cleverly played it back inside to lock Api Naevo.  The big man sold a dummy, steamed ahead and barged over for the try.

This gave the Fijians heart and their tackling suddenly lifted a degree, not always amiably as they led with the shoulder.

This was the next irony of the match, for after they took heart and tightened their defence France scored two tries.

The first came after Nicholas Brusque had started a run down the right.  Olivier Magne was buried in a tackle which became a French scrum about 20 metres from the Fijian line and towards the French left.  They won the scrum and went left.  Imanol Harinordoquy, the No.8, picked up and gave to Fabien Galthié as Brusque came speeding up from fullback.  Brusque's pass sent Christophe Dominici nipping in for a try.

From the kick-off, Rougerie broke out.  Norman Ligairi fumbled near his line.  France then tapped a penalty and the forwards surged over for a try credited to Harinordoquy.

They nearly got a third when Rougerie was bounced out at the corner post.

Half-time came and France led 24-8.

Nicky Little kicked his second penalty and then came that magic moment when Caucaunibuca scored.  Fiji were down around their 22, France knocked on on Fiji's left and Little picked up the ball.  He passed to Ligairi, who floated an outrageous pass, born of Sevens, over several heads to Caucaunibuca near the touchline, just outside his 22.

The speedy wing started striding.  He strode past Rougerie as if the Frenchman were rooted to the spot.  He ran away from Harinordoquy's attempt to cover.  Then the Fijian turned inside and swept past Brusque to stroll over at the posts.

The whole world was now exposed to the genius that the Super 12 had seen revealed.

Was an upset in the offing?

Alas, the lit fire was extinguished as Moses Rauluni conceded two penalties and France led 30-18.

Then the French counter-attacked, Tony Marsh came in on a switch and sent centre partner Yannick Jauzion for the first of his hat-trick of tries.

Then came the fighting.  It started with a rough tackle on Frédéric Michalak at which the French showed anger.  Rauluni was the object of French anger, Serge Betsen the object of Fijian anger, but the real dust-up centred on Olivier Magne, whom the Fijians had previously found prickly.  Caucaunibuca got in two shots, Magne one.  Magne ended floored but arose in time to be sent to the sin bin along with Caucaunibuca.

Soon afterwards Marsh made a half-break and sent Jauzion over under the posts for France's bonus point.

Then Dominici did some dancing and Jauzion was back under the posts.

By this time Fiji had fallen apart, their pack battered into subjection, their scrum-half living in intolerable conditions.

From a five-metre line-out the French surged over and the referee told Raphaël Ibañez that he had scored.

Waisale Serevi was on at fullback.  He chipped twice, disastrously on both occasions.  From the second Galthié countered and Dominici got his second try.

It was a strange match -- a glorious moment, some great moments, some tawdry moments and lots of desultory handling.

Man of the match:  There was Fabien Galthié, full of life behind the French pack and No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy was full of activity.  But our Man of the Match is a two-man creature -- the centres Tony Marsh and Yannick Jauzion who combined brilliantly and created opportunities for each other and the rest of their team -- Marsh so pleasingly back from illness to greatness.

Moment of the match:  Rupeni Caucaunibuca's try -- the moment of the 2003 Rugby World Cup up till now.

Villain of the match:  There were those angry men of the second half, especially the two sent to the sin bin -- Rupeni Caucaunibuca, who may have been fortunate that the card was not redder in hue, and Olivier Magne.

The Teams:

France:  1 Jean-Jacques Crenca, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 4 Fabien Pelous, 5 Jerome Thion, 6 Serge Betsen Tchoua, 7 Olivier Magne, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 9 Fabien Galthie, 10 Frederic Michalak, 11 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 13 Tony Marsh, 14 Christophe Dominici, 15 Nicolas Brusque
Reserves:  Olivier Brouzet, Gerald Merceron, Pepito Elhorga, Christian Labit, Damien Traille
Unused:  Yannick Bru, Olivier Milloud

Fiji:  1 Richard Nyholt, 2 Greg Smith, 3 Joeli Veitayaki, 4 Apenisa Naevo, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 6 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Alifereti Doviverata (c), 9 Mosese Rauluni, 10 Nicky Little, 11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 12 Seru Rabeni, 13 Aisea Tuilevu, 14 Vilimoni Delasau, 15 Norman Ligairi
Reserves:  Waisale Serevi, Kele Leawere, Sami Rabaka Nasagavesi, Naka Seru, Koli Sewabu, Marika Vunibaka
Unused:  Bill Gadolo

Attendance:  46795
Referee:  Rolland a.

Points Scorers:

France
Tries:  Jauzion Y. 3, Dominici C. 2, Ibanez R. 1, Harinordoquy I. 1
Conv:  Michalak F. 4
Pen K.:  Michalak F. 6

Fiji
Tries:  Caucaunibuca R. 1, Naevo A. 1
Conv:  Little N.T. 1
Pen K.:  Little N.T. 2