France clinched their second consecutive victory in the Rugby World Cup 2023 by defeating a determined Uruguay side with a score of 27-12 in Pool A, with the match taking place in Lille. The French team encountered an early challenge when Uruguay’s fly-half, Felipe Etcheverry, executed a well-placed cross-field pass, which Nicolas Freitas received and sprinted down the left wing to score the opening try.
Antoine Hastoy, France’s own fly-half, soon exploited a gap in the Uruguayan defense to score. Two successful penalties from Melvyn Jaminet gave Les Bleus a 13-5 lead at halftime.
Despite Uruguay, ranked 17th in the world, narrowing the gap to just one point with a try by Baltazar Amaya, France’s substitute, Peato Mauvaka, seized an opportunity from a ricochet to break free and score. A late try by winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey sealed the victory for France.
Maxime Lucu, honored as France’s Mastercard Player of the Match, commented on the challenging match, stating, “It has been a very difficult match. We tried to set the pace, but we couldn’t find a way to score. We’re pleased with the performance and the fact that we secured the win in front of our fans. The tournament goes on.”
Uruguay’s captain, Andres Vilaseca, expressed his pride in his team’s performance and said, “I’m incredibly proud of my team. I couldn’t ask for a better group to lead. We were up against France, one of the world’s top teams, on their home ground. I’m truly proud. This is just the beginning for us. We fought for the entire game, and it was crucial for us to keep pressuring France and keep competing.”
Raphael Ibanez, France’s general manager, recognized Uruguay’s passionate and determined play, stating, “Credit to Uruguay. They played with immense passion and heart. It was a tough battle, but it marks our second victory in this competition, and that’s what matters most. We made some errors with our ball handling, and it was challenging for us to maintain a strong structure.
We missed out on scoring points at the end of the first half – it’s a World Cup match – and we will learn from that. One of the great aspects of this competition, being played in France, is the crowd and the incredible atmosphere. It provides a tremendous amount of energy to the players, so we’re thankful to the fans.”
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