European Nations Championship 2005

Final

France 38 def. Wales 16

European Nations Championship 2005
Final

France
38
16
Wales
Match Info
Match URL www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/14997
Status Completed
Date Saturday, 5th November, 2005
Referee Glen Black
Venue d'Albert Domec (Carcassonne)
Crowd 3,000
Match Stats
Halftime Score 26 6
France Scoresheet Wales
Jérôme GUISSET 2 T 2 Adam HUGHES
Frédéric ZITTER 2   Lee BRIERS
Olivier CHARLES      
Julien RINALDI      
Teddy SADAOUI      
 
Laurent FRAYSSINOUS 5/7 G 2/3 Lee BRIERS
France Teams Wales
Renaud GUIGUE
[UTC]
1 FB 1 Damian GIBSON
[Halifax]
Frédéric ZITTER
[Barrow]
2 W 2 Bryn POWELL
Teddy SADAOUI 3 C 3 Aled JAMES
Jérôme HERMET 4 C 4 Adam HUGHES
[Widnes]
Olivier CHARLES 5 W 5 Richard JOHNSON
 
Laurent FRAYSSINOUS
[UTC]
6 FE 6 Lee BRIERS
[Warrington]
Julien RINALDI
[UTC]
7 HB 7 Mark LENNON
 
David FERRIOL 8 FR 8 David MILLS
[Widnes]
David BERTHEZENE
[UTC]
9 HK 9 Ian WATSON
Jérôme GUISSET
[Wigan]
10 FR 10 Gareth DEAN
Grégory MOUNIS
[UTC]
11 2R 11 Anthony BLACKWOOD
[Halifax]
Jamal FAKIR
[UTC]
12 2R 12 Jordan JAMES
Christophe MOLY 13 L 13 Philip JOSEPH
 
Laurent CARRASCO 14 B 14 Paul MORGAN
Maxime GRÉSÈQUE
[Pia]
15 B 15 Lenny WOODARD
Adel FELLOUS
[UTC]
16 B 16 Byron SMITH
Sébastien RAGUIN
[Toulouse]
17 B 17 Gareth PRICE
 
John MONIE   HC   Martin HALL
   
 

Team Info

France

Previous Game:
European Nations Championship 2005 - Game 3 vs. Georgia
Next Game:
France vs Australia 2005 - vs. Australia
Out:
Adam Innes (fullback), Aurélien Cologni (second row), Thomas Bosc (bench), Cédric Gay (bench), Jean-Christophe Borlin (bench)
In:
Renaud Guigue (fullback), Laurent Frayssinous (five-eighth), David Ferriol (front row), Jérôme Guisset (front row), Jamal Fakir (second row)
Changes:
Maxime Grésèque (five-eighth to bench), Sébastien Raguin (front row to bench), Adel Fellous (front row to bench), Laurent Carrasco (second row to bench), Grégory Mounis (bench to second row)

Wales

Previous Game:
European Nations Championship 2005 - Game 3 vs. Ireland
Next Game:
World Cup Qualifiers 2006/07 - Game 1 vs. Scotland
Out:
Chris Morley (second row)
In:
Aled James (centre)
Changes:
Anthony Blackwood (centre to second row)

Match Report

by IAN GOLDEN

France secured their first win over Wales in 24 years, winning 38-16 in the European Nations Cup Final.

It took just two minutes for France to register their first score. An excellent passing move culminated in Julien Rinaldi setting up Barrow's Frédéric Zitter in the corner. Laurent Frayssinous' conversion was just centimetres wide of the target.

Wales came close to an equaliser in 10th minute. From dummy half, Damien Gibson set up Aled James but, under pressure, he dropped the ball while diving for the line.

James knocked on again just minutes later, leading to a French attack but they were unable to capitalise. Rinaldi's attempt at a 40-20 failed and was also too far for Zitter to save possession.

Gareth Dean's sinbinning for an over the top challenge in the 16th minute immediately led to a second French try. Teddy Sadaoui set up Zitter who took advantage of the gap and easily ran in his second try. This time, Frayssinous made no mistake and France were 10-0 up.

Four minutes later, France extended their lead in a classic display of rugby league. Christophe Moly started the move at dummy half, set up danger-man, Rinaldi who played a neat one-two with Frayssinous to get past the Welsh defence and grounded just wide of the sticks. Frayssinous easily converted.

The lead could have been extended yet again in the 26th but Moly's grubber kick was just too far for Rinaldi.

With Wales now back to full strength, they finally got on the board from the resulting attack. On the fifth tackle, Mark Lennon set up Adam Hughes who ran the ball over. Lee Briers converted.

France regained their advantage on 33 minutes. Rinaldi again was the playmaker laying the ball of beautifully to Sadaoui who charged through the Welsh defence. Frayssinous' conversion attempt hit the post.

France were applauded off at half-time after going 26-6 up after Frayssinous set up Guisset to score. Frayssinous easily converted.

Wales opened the second half in convincing fashion with an Adam Hughes try in the corner. Briers missed the conversion.

Wales' spirits were lifted. Briers broke through the defence to score in the 47th minute and converted to take the score back to 26-16.

Following Briers' sinbinning, France fought back and got close to the line. Substitute, Sébastien Raguin led the charge but Zitter knocked on from a Guiset pass.

Wales also went close in the middle of the second half. Jordan James was held up a metre from the line and Phil Joseph was stopped ten metres out on the next attack.

But when Jérôme Guisset broke through the Welsh defence on 66 minutes to score, there was no doubt that the European Nations Cup was to go back to France for the first time in 24 years.

Olivier Charles could have added to the score but for a try-saving tackle by Damien Gibson.

However, a length of the field move involving Zitter and Frayssinous put the icing on the cake for the French. Charles ran the ball home and Frayssinous converted.

Wales captain Lee Briers was unhappy at being sinbinned and commented: "I now realise why the Australians sometimes complain about the choice of officials. I also think it was wrong that we had local touch-judges with no Super League experience. Everyone needs to sit down and have a good look at the rules of the tournament and the reason why the British teams had to have three Conference players in the tournament and the French didn't."

Wales coach Martin Hall said: "Our efforts considering what we were up against was excellent. The French were a solid and well-drilled outfit but at times it felt we were up against 14 men. In fact, considering we played 60 minutes of the game with 12 men, I think we came out of the came with credit. I'd like to thank the Welsh management and players for all their efforts. Everyone has given 100%."

Source: WalesRL.co.uk

This match is a part of the following:

Contributions: Cymru RL, Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson