Laporte: ten out of ten for Jonny

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte singled out Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked all 24 points as England reached the World Cup final.

"Wilkinson has a fantastic ability to put a team under pressure. Someone said he was dead, but he was very alive tonight," reflected a disappointed Laporte.

"He kicked the penalties and dropped the goals. It is fantastic for him."

Laporte refused to blame the teeming rain and treacherous pitch for his team's demoralising loss.

"We are not going to hide behind the conditions," he said. "When you play rugby union you have to play under the sun and under the rain. But no excuses," he said. "Our field kicking in the first half wasn't very good.

"It is true the rain had a massive impact on the game, but we are a top team, we need to master a kicking game," said Laporte.

"We need to show the flexibility needed in difficult conditions. It wasn't England who knocked on, it wasn't England who lost their own line-out, it was France.

"England played the territorial game well and kept reasonable control but we missed the kicks.

"That is life. That is sport."

France lost Christophe Dominici and Serge Betsen to the sin-bin the first Laporte conceded was deserved as the French winger cynically tripped Jason Robinson.

Despite that, France were still in touch at the break and Laporte urged them there was all to play for heading into the second half.

"I explained even though we had been down to 14 men and had a terrible first half, we were only five points behind," he said.

"I said if we can make our set-pieces better we could get back into it.

"But that didn't happen and France let the game slip away," he added.

Manager Jo Maso said France hoped to play well against New Zealand in the third place playoff next Thursday.

"They must be disappointed, they are a great team. I'm still proud of this team," he said.

"It was a strategic game and we lost it. They were stronger than us."

Laporte paid tribute to captain and scrumhalf Fabien Galthie, who will retire after the tournament.

Galthie said he did not know yet if he would play on Thursday.