Saturday, October 3, 2015 23

FRANCEMilton Keynes REACH QUARTERused his speed to outpace the rederic Michalak became defence and touch down. FFrance’s all-time World Cup points scorer on Thursday Van der Merwe’s trio as his country became the first team to reach the quarter-finals It took van der Merwe onto with a 41-18 win over Canada. 19 Test tries and was his third The 33-year-old fly-half, in three games at this World already France’s all-time Cup. leading scorer, scored 14 Hirayama converted to points to pass Thierry Lacroix’ rousing cheers, including previous mark of 124. He several spectators dressed as moved on to 136 points, Canadian Mounties, for 17-7. earning himself the man of the The Mounties were match award. whooping and hollering The mercurial playmaker minutes later as unbelievably broke the record in front of the Canadians scored their a record crowd for Stadium second try. Hooker Aaron mk of 28,145 including Prince Carpenter planted the ball on Harry. the line -- though Hirayama France’s far from convincing missed the conversion -- for win -- the Canadians came 17-12. back from 17-0 down to 17-12 The French pulled -- sets them up for their final themselves together and Pool D clash against Ireland on responded with a try two October 11 to decide who tops minutes from the break, the the table and avoids a probable ball worked by Bernard Le clash against New Zealand. Roux to lock Pascal Pape for The Irish, unbeaten in their prop Rabah Slimani to finish two games so far, play Italy on it off -- Michalak converted Sunday. for 24-12. A typical piece of visionary Hirayama reduced the brilliance by Michalak opened deficit two minutes into the up the Canadian defence in the Canada’s scrum half Gordon McRorie (right) runs to evade France’s scrum half Morgan Parra (left) second-half to make it 24-16. fourth minute handing off one Michalak converted to draw worsened as captain Tyler kick into Fofana’s path over Michalak adding the extras for The fly-half deservedly of the props dismissively and level with Thierry Lacroix Ardron had to go off with a the tryline but the centre wasn’t 17-0. The Canadians struck drew the Canadians within a bursting free. as France’s all-time leading knee injury. quite able to gather the ball and back almost immediately converted try of the French, He drew his defender and World Cup scorer on 124. Michalak and Fofana nearly touch it down. as debutant Remy Grosso slotting over another penalty with a sublime sleight of hand The 33-year-old broke the combined for a second try in However, the French did not was beaten in the air and the as the clock ticked over into the passed the ball to Wesley record in the 15th minute the 24th minute started by a have to wait long to add to ball was eventually worked 55th minute. Fofana who needed no second slotting over a penalty to make great break by Michalak, then their try tally. Hooker Guilhem brilliantly out to the other wing Michalak made it 27-18 with invitation to run the ball in. it 10-0. The Canadians evening he placed a cheeky cross field Guirado bundled over with where DTH van der Merwe another penalty. (AFP) Parisse return boosts Italy for England, Australia crucial game against Ireland teams slug it out Twickenham shame in the qualifying round who missed the first two games Favaro with whom he has ngland and Australia are if they lose again -- there is following surgery to drain a formed a potent partnership. fighting over the scrum a war of words over how the haematoma on his calf, is one Italy have won three of the Ebefore they even go on the Pool A confrontation will be of five changes to the starting last four tests when Parisse pitch for their decisive World refereed at Twickenham. XV who scraped a 23-18 win and Favaro started together Cup clash on Saturday. England forwards coach over Canada last weekend. in the back row, a sequence The pressure will be on Graham Rowntree hit back Parisse’s aura is such that that began with Italy’s first French referee Romain Poite Friday after former Wallaby the Irish have said they fear ever Six Nations win over during the game as much coach Bob Dwyer accused the the impact he could have on Ireland, 22-15 in Rome in as the heavyweights on Red Rose brigade of deploying reviving his side’s morale as 2013. either side whose battle for an illegal set-piece. they drive for a victory needed That was prior to present supremacy could decide the England have won their last to maintain any hope of Ireland coach Joe Schmidt game. two Tests against Australia reaching the quarter-finals. taking over and guiding the “The scrum is one of the through their dominant Parisse comes into the Irish to two successive Six most humbling parts of rugby forwards. team for and Nations titles (2014/15). -- you can do very well in one But Dwyer, who guided takes captaincy duties back There are 13 players in and get ripped apart in the Australia to victory over from , Italy’s match-day squad that next one if you are not on England in the 1991 World (L-R) Italy’s lock , prop and who misses the match with a were involved that day. your game every single time,” Cup final at Twickenham, has back row Samuela Vunisa take part in a team training session thigh muscle injury. Aside from Parisse and said Australia coach Michael accused England loosehead London 2015 World Cup in the must- Parisse, who becomes the Favaro three of them come in Cheika on Friday. prop Joe Marler of gaining an alismanic Italy captain win Pool D game against Six sixth Italy player to participate the pack, tighthead Lorenzo With the stakes so high unfair advantage by angling returns to Nations champions Ireland on in four World Cups, is joined Cittadini, and locks Quintin -- England were upset 28-25 in rather than scrummaging theT side for his first game of the Sunday. The 32-year-old No. 8, in the back row by Simon Geldenhuys and Josh Furno. by Wales and will go out in square.