Uruguay's wing Nicolas Freitas scores a try against France. 2023 Rugby World Cup. Photo: AFP
A largely reshuffled France side showed a worrying lack of discipline and a certain nonchalance as they laboured to a 27-12 victory against an inspired Uruguay in their second World Cup game.
Fabien Galthie's choice to make 12 changes from the team who beat the All Blacks in the curtain raiser last weekend could have backfired as France were never fully in control at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, sealing the win only in the final minutes.
They prevailed with tries by Antoine Hastoy, Peato Mauvaka and Louis Bielle-Biarrey with the rest of the points coming from the boot of the reliable Melvyn Jaminet while Uruguay scored two fine tries by Nicolas Freitas and Baltazar Amaya as Felipe Etcheverry could only kick a conversion.
France's lock Cameron Woki and Uruguay's number eight Manuel Diana Olaso fight for the ball. Rugby World Cup 2023. Photo: AFP
France lead Pool A with eight points, three ahead of Italy. The All Blacks face Namibia in Toulouse on Saturday morning (NZT).
It was Uruguay's entrance in this World Cup, and they started their campaign with great fanfare, an early try by Freitas silencing the home crowd.
The winger touched down in the corner after collecting a cross-field kick from Felipe Aliaga, showing that the South Americans have more to offer than courage and grit.
The hosts responded quickly after torturing their opponents in the scrum, with Hastoy going over and Jaminet converting to put them 10-5 ahead.
Over confident, France thought it was the early break they needed, but the visitors had other ideas.
Romain Taofifenua was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle and Uruguay threatened through Freitas and were denied a try after Tomas Inciarte was harshly ruled to have blocked a French tackler.
Undisciplined in the scrum and bothered by Uruguay in the mauls, France were only 13-5 ahead at halftime and the visitors continued their effort after the break.
They reduced the arrears with a superb try by Amaya, who evaded a tackle before touching down in the corner.
Les Bleus were somehow lucky to extend their lead shortly afterwards as Mauvaka scored a try after Felipe Etcheverry's kick in the traffic bounced onto the back of a team mate and into the path of the French hooker.
Jaminet's conversion put them 20-12 ahead and Bielle-Biarrey, the youngest French player to take part in a World Cup, put the result beyond doubt seven minutes from time when he dived over on the open side.
Sekou Macalou had the bonus-point try denied, and it was a fair conclusion to an entertaining match during which France conceded a woeful 15 penalties.
-Reuters