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Bru © Getty Images
Stand in French captain Yannick Bru leads out his team

FRA 41 v USA 14 What they said

31/10/2003

 

Bernard LAPORTE (FRA) - Coach

On the team he selected for this game:

"It's a team which is very physical."

On whether it was a second string side that played tonight:

"It's not a 'B' team, not at all. It's just not the team which played against Scotland."

Yannick BRU (FRA) - Captain

On France's second half performance:

"We were a little bit tired. The USA had a good beginning in the second half, the (France) players who began the game were not used to playing. After a good first half their legs were very heavy."

On his personal performance:

"It was my first try for France, I am very happy. We did good work in the scrums and lineouts. I'm very proud of the forwards in the first half. It was not easy to play because of the wind tonight."

On France's upcoming matches:

"We feel confident, we are getting better physically and technically. We hope we have to play Ireland. It will be a big surprise tomorrow and we hope the Wallabies beat Ireland. It will be very difficult for us to beat the Wallabies at home."

Tom BILLUPS (USA) - Coach

On France:

"The French side are a very professional and classy outfit and the guys were playing at the utmost level of athleticism."

On USA's performance throughout the Tournament:

"I'm a very proud man and I think we've got quite a few young players who showed themselves to be some of the best young players of the Tournament."

"I'm proud of the effort the boys have made throughout the Tournament."

"I'm very excited that the plans I have made with my staff are starting to bear fruit."

"No coach in the Rugby World Cup can ask for more than their team improving. Our team was improving throughout the Tournament." 

On flyhalf Mike HERCUS:

"I think he's got some very good skills and (he is) one of several 24-year-olds we are excited about carrying into the future. I think that Mike got better and I think the team got better throughout the Tournament and there isn't a coach who could ask for more."

On which team he thinks will win the Tournament:

"It would appear that the French have the formula right."

"I think the French have as good a chance as anyone. They have a good balance of forwards, in attack, and backs."

Dave HODGES (USA) - Captain

On the USA performance in the second half of the match:

"I suppose France was sitting back a little but it's only natural when you are up a little bit. But we came out fairly well in the second half and I'm just proud of the effort the guys put in through the last 80 minutes."

On how he rates France:

"I reckon, the way they're playing right now, and that was their second team playing the same way, I reckon they can go all the way to the Final."

On the USA's effort at RWC 2003:

"We fell a little bit short in the Fiji game. If we had of won that, maybe we would have had something to play for tonight. But we did improve, we just didn't improve enough and we accomplished some of our goals but now we have  some more to accomplish in the next World Cup."
 

 

 


 

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