Talking Points | infonews.co.nz New Zealand News

It has not been a particularly consistent campaign by France but Marc Lièvremont's men have shown plenty of resolve to become the first team to reach the Rugby World Cup final after losing two pool matches. Criticism of Les Blues has been widespread since their shaky, though ultimately comfortable opening win against Japan, but in their knockout victories against England (19-12) and Wales (9-8) they executed sensible if not spectacular game plans to put the matches beyond the reach of their opponents. One week after he had teased and dismantled England with his boot, France scrum half Dimitri Yachvili emphasised France's kicking versatility by standing aside for half back partner Morgan Parra to accrue the penalty points necessary for victory. It was the second lowest score in a RWC knockout match and unashamedly result-focused. "It was not our best game," Lièvremont was happy to admit. "What matters is we are going to the final." The principal defensive weapon for France against England had been box kicks out of their own territory that could be chased and possession contested, but against Wales, who managed to exert more pressure than England, the strategy of kicking out of territory changed, with balls being sent straight into touch and possession instead contested mostly in the lineout. Seven times in the first half France cleared balls into touch from their own 22, with Yachvili, Parra, Médard and Mermoz all putting boot to ball to move Wales out of the danger area. Killed momentum Wales' lineout functioned well in the first period, with the tallest player at RWC 2011, Luke Charteris, and lineout leader Alun Wyn Jones both claiming good ball for their team, but it was a different story in the second half. Riding their luck a little after James Hook missed two first-half penalty kicks at goal for Wales, France held a 6-3 advantage at the break and were content to keep their noses in front for the rest of the contest by combining tactical kicking to touch and a high workrate in the tackle that killed momentum and frustrated Wales' designs on a comeback. "They didn't want to play very much," said disheartened Wales fly half Stephen Jones. "As soon as they got into the lead they were not keen to play in their own half, so they just kicked the ball downfield." After Wales had kicked an early second-half penalty into an attacking lineout position just outside France's 10-metre line (which Huw Bennett overthrew), France went on to kick Wales into another 13 lineouts, a remarkable number when compared with Wales' RWC 2011 average of 11.6 lineouts per match. France compounded the tactic by providing stern opposition to Bennett's throws, with second row Lionel Nallet and back rows Imanol Harinordoquy and man of the match Julien Bonnaire combining to steal or spoil four of the possessions. Again, the number is notable when compared with Wales' previous worst RWC 2011 lineout performance when they lost three of their own throws against Samoa. Even against renowned lineout exponents South Africa in their opening match, Wales conceded only two of their own throws. Risky strategy In comparison, France had seven lineouts on their own throw in the second half, winning six of them, with Nallet the key jumper claiming half of the throws. Sitting on your lead and continually giving your opponent opportunity for possession can be a risky strategy, however, and Mike Phillips' try for Wales just before the hour mark highlighted how important the lineout contests became in the second half. From close to his own try-line, Parra cleared to touch just outside France's 22, Alun Wyn Jones claimed clean ball unopposed and three phases later, Phillips darted through a gap for the only try of the match to take Wales within a point. Stephen Jones could not add the crucial conversion, just shaving the left upright, and despite having plenty more possession in the last quarter of the match, Wales could not trouble the scoreboard again. Another notable aspect of France's defensive effort was their total of 126 tackles, their highest tally in an RWC 2011 match so far. Their discipline in the tackle area and at rucks strangled Wales' last remaining hope in the last quarter of the match. Towards the end of the match, France adopted the ploy of tackling the player then standing off the ruck to prepare for the next carrying phase in order to limit the chances of conceding a penalty. The frustration tactic was almost a total success, allowing Wales just one penalty shot from halfway, which Leigh Halfpenny could only kick centimetres short. A relieved Bonnaire admitted France's game plan was risky but that the result was foremost. "Maybe we thought a bit too early in the game that we had won,” he said. "Our defence saved us tonight, but the most important thing is that we will be playing in the final."