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Last Updated: Friday, 22 August, 2003, 17:06 GMT 18:06 UK
France thrash Romania
Damien Traille
Damien Traille opened the scoring for France
France 56-8 Romania

A strong France side brushed aside Romania in the first of their first World Cup warm-up matches in Lens.

The home side ran in eight tries, while Frederick Michalak kicked seven conversions in a one-sided affair.

Damien Traille opened the scoring when he ran through a gaping hole in the defence to score a simple try in the fourth minute.

Aurelien Rougerie added a second seven minutes later and there were further tires from Imanol Harinordoquy, Serge Betsen, Jean-Jacques Crenca, Yannick Jauzion and Brian Liebenberg.

We are very excited at playing England, the ogres of international rugby
France coach Bernard Laporte
French manager Jo Maso praised the display of fly-half Michalack, who combined solid goalkicking with an assured tactical game, albeit under little pressure.

"He gave a lot of speed and dynamism and we believe he is a player who can pass the ball when the ball has to be passed and pass it at the right time," Maso said.

Romania managed three penalties in the first half before winger Gabriel Brezoianu went over in the corner for their only try.

Olivier Magne, who returned to the starting line-up after being rested for summer Tests in Argentina and New Zealand, added a final French try in injury time.

France go on to play England home and away on 30 August and 6 September, and the French Barbarians on 20 September.

"We are very excited at the thought of playing England, the ogres of international rugby, over two legs," said coach Bernard Laporte.

"They have not lost for a year and a half. They have defeated everybody, you have to respect that."


France team:
Pepita Elhorga (Agen); Aurelien Rougerie (Montferrand), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Pau), Christophe Dominici (Stade Fran�ais); Frederick Michalak (Toulouse), Fabien Galthi� (Stade Fran�ais, capt); Jean-Jacques Crenca (Agen), Yannick Bru (Toulouse), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Fran�ais), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Olivier Magne (Montferrand), Imanol Harinordoquy (Pau).
Replacements: Raphael Ibanez (Saracens/Eng), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Olivier Brouzet (Montferrand), Christian Labit (Toulouse), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz), Gerald Merceron (Montferrand), Brian Liebenberg (Stade Fran�ais).

Romania team:
Danut Dumbrava (Steaua Bucharest): Cristian Sauan (Rugby Rovigo), Valetin Maftei (Valence), Romeo Gontineac (Aurillac, capt), Gabriel Brezoianu (Bordeaux): Ionut Tofan (Metro Racing Paris), Lucian Sirbu (Metro Racing Paris): Costica Mersoiu (Steaua Bucharest), Ovidiu Tonita (Biarritz), George Chiriac (Farul Constanta), Cristian Petre (Metro Racing Paris), Sorin Socol (Brive), Marcel Socaciu (Rugby Rovigo), Marius Tincu (Section Paloise), Petru Balan (Grenoble)
Replacements: Petrisor Toderasc (Farul Constanta), Cezar Popescu, Augustin Petrichei, Florin Corodeanu (Grenoble), Cristian Podea, Iulian Andrei (Steaua Bucharest), Mihai Vioreanu (De la Salle Palmerston)




SEE ALSO
De Villiers out of World Cup
18 Aug 03  |  Internationals
Marsh targets England return
11 Aug 03  |  Rugby Union


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