France get the job done

It wasn't pretty but France got the result they were looking for on Saturday, beating Fiji 34-12 in pouring rain in Nantes.

In atrocious conditions it was never going to be the high-thrills match we had all hoped for.  France scored three tries, including a penalty try as their scrum came good in the closing stages after a rather poor start.

Unsurprisingly considering the conditions and their lack of preparation time, Fiji never really threatened the French try-line.

Fiji competed well in the early stages and were holding on at 6-all at the end of the first quarter.

France broke through just after the half-hour mark when Napolioni Nalaga failed to hold onto a wayward penalty attempt and David Marty pounced on the loose ball for les Bleus' first try.

The hosts' second try came soon after break when centre Fabrice Estebanez thumped a huge kick cross-field for Maxime Medard to latch onto and put down in the corner.

Worn out by their hosts, the Fijian scrum crumbled under the posts with ten minutes left, and referee Andrew Small handed France five points under the posts.

France will face Argentina next week having learnt very little from match where they were seldom troubled, but failed to find any rhythm.

Man of the match:  Dimitri Yachvili was his usual reliable self from the kicking tee but we'll go for France captain Imanol Harinordoquy who gained plenty of metres on the ground and stole of couple of balls in the air at line-out time.

Moment of the match:  It'll go down as the least spectacular try of the year, but David Marty's try gave France a gap that Fiji were never going to close.

Villain of the match:  Who do we blame for the weather?

The scorers:

For France:
Tries:  Marty, Medard, Penalty try
Cons:  Yachvili 2
Pens:  Yachvili 5

For Fiji:
Pens:  Baï 4

France:  15 Jerome Porical, 14 Julien Arias, 13 David Marty, 12 Fabrice Estebanez, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Damien Traille, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (c), 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Jerome Thion, 4 Romain Millo-Chluski, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Jerome Schuster
Replacements:  16 Benjamin Noirot, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Sebastien Chabal, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 David Skrela, 22 Alexis Palisson, 23 Nicolas Mas.

Fiji:  15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Sereli Nakelevuqi, 13 Albert Vulivuli, 12 Seru Rabeni, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Seremaia Baï, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Semisi Naevo, 5 Jone Qovu, 4 Wame Lewaravu, 3 Deacon Manu (cap), 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1 Graham Dewes
Replacements:  16 Setefano Somoca, 17 Viliame Veikoso, 18 Sekonaia Kalou, 19 Malakai Ravulo, 20 Seveci Taka, 21 Josh Matavesi, 22 Gabriele Lovobalavu

Venue:  Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Referee:  Andrew Small (England)
Assistant referees:  Nigel Owens (Wales), James Jones (Wales)
Television match official:  Carlo Damasco (Italy)