French admit relief after Japan scare
France survived a second-half scare from Japan before sealing a 47-21 victory in their Pool A match at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
The Brave Blossoms frustrated the French with some dazzling, free-flowing rugby that was superbly orchestrated by their half backs, Fumiaki Tanaka and James Arlidge, with the latter earning all his side's points.
Even France assistant coach Emile Ntamack later conceded that his players were feeling the strain, saying: "We came back at the end of the game, but we were under pressure."
Japan's New Zealand coach John Kirwan said his players just lacked the intensity to pull off one of the first shocks of the tournament.
"We want to be the most improved football team," he said.
Japan, looking to break a run of 14 RWC games without a victory, the longest in the tournament's history and up against the highest-ranked northern hemisphere side, were run off their feet at the outset.
These sides had only met once in this tournament, with France triumphing 51-29 in October 2003 in Townsville, Australia.
France stated their intention to play at pace from the off. It took a brilliant tackle to bring down wing Fabrice Estebanez with the line seemingly at his mercy, but they were soon over through second row Julien Pierre after another sharp move.
Dimitri Yachvili converted and France continued to step on the gas, cruising into a 14-0 lead after 12 minutes when Francois Trinh-Duc intercepted a pass inside his own half and sprinted away for another converted try.
Yachvili hits back
Japan got on the scoreboard with a 17th-minute penalty through fly half Arlidge, the only Japan player to play his rugby abroad.
Although Japan had their moments, Yachvili hit back with two penalties, the last for a scrum infringement to put France 20-3 up after 28 minutes.
But Japan, to their credit, had a sweet moment straight after when the industrious Arlidge regathered his kick and beat two defenders to race over.
It was another sharp backline move, finished off by wing Vincent Clerc, that put France 25-8 ahead.
Arlidge added another penalty to have Japan trailing 25-11 at the break.
France maintained the pressure straight after the terval and only some dogged defence by Japan prevented them from adding another two tries.
Never-say-die-attitude
The third official ruled that both Imanol Harinordoguy and second row Lionel Nallet were held up over the line in quick succession.
Japan's never-say-die attitude reaped reward when they scored their first try after 48 minutes, a sustained drive from their own half instigated by scrum half Tanaka.
It was brilliantly finished off by Arlidge, who brushed off three defenders to cross by the posts, and then converted.
After 58 minutes, he had Japan within four points, with France penalised virtually in front after failing to release the player in the tackle and leaving Arlidge to capitalise.
Japan were guilty of the same offence in the 66th, gifting Yachvili another penalty to edge them into a 28-21 lead.
France breathed a huge sigh of relief when Nallet went over for their fourth try with 10 minutes left, which was converted by Yachvili.
France sealed a difficult victory when substitutes Pascal Papé and Morgan Parra crossed.