France beat a determined USA 41-14 in their Pool B match at WIN Stadium in Wollongong tonight.
Les Bleus, who had already qualified for the Quarter Finals prior to this match, will play the runners-up of Pool A at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome on Saturday 8 November.
Resting several star players including captain Fabien Galthie, France scored five tries to two with their centre Brian Liebenberg scoring a hat-trick.
France completely dominated the first half but the USA showed signs of what might have been with some promising play in the second half leading to tries to flanker Kort Shubert and classy fly half Mike Hercus.
Gale force winds
Playing in near gale force winds France showed enthusiasm and composure to establish the early authority.
France fly half Gerald Merceron opened the scoring with a couple of penalties to lead 6-0 after 10 minutes.
With the Eagles struggling to contain the powerful French scrum, Liebenberg’s first half double had France ahead 18-0 after 20 minutes.
France full back Clement Poitrenaud was dangerous whenever he touched the ball, creating a midfield break that led to Liebenberg’s first try.
France prop Jean Baptiste Poux crossed for a five pointer in the 34th minute and Merceron added a penalty to give France a 26-0 lead at the break.
Eagles hit back
USA hit back with a converted try immediately after the break through flanker Kort Shubert, running off a superb Hercus pass, to give the Eagles some hope at 26-7.
Leibenberg brought up his hat-trick just six minutes later to extend his side’s lead but the USA weren’t done with just yet.
Hercus showed his class throughout the match and was rewarded with his fifth career try in the 51st minute, throwing a dummy to the inside then crashing through the defence to bring the score back to 31-14.
When France’s stand-in skipper Yannick Bru charged over in the 54th minute the lead had stretched to 24 points, putting the game beyond the Eagles reach.
Yellow card
France finished the match with 14 men after flanker Sebastian Chabal was yellow carded in the 74th minute for an infringement at the ruck.
The USA exit RWC with one win from four starts but can hold their heads high, unlucky not to have recorded a second win after a narrow one-point defeat at the hands of Fiji.
Scores
France 41
Tries: Liebenberg (3), Poux, Bru
Conversions: Merceron (2)
Penalties: Merceron (3)
Drop goals:Yachvili (1)
Defeated
USA 14
Tries: Shubert, Hercus
Conversions: Hercus (2)