Lievremont content as Clerc clicks for France with hat-trick

FRANCE coach Marc Lievremont was “satisfied” after seeing his side claim a second straight bonus-point win in Pool A with a 46-19 success over Canada in Napier.

Winger Vincent Clerc grabbed a hat-trick of tries to take his World Cup tally to four, while Damien Traille also crossed.

Morgan Parra helped himself to a 23-point haul with the boot, with Francois Trinh-Duc contributing a drop goal at a sodden McLean Park.

Lievremont had made 11 changes following the unimpressive victory over Japan, but there was another disjointed performance from Les Blues, although their cause was not helped by difficult conditions.

And while Lievremont was less than happy with areas of his side’s game, he was at least content with the outcome.

“I’m happy, of course,” he said. “I was annoyed last week and I said so. I’m not going to be unhappy after every game. We got a bonus point, and that is just reward for the team and the fans. That’s not to say that everything was perfect, I got a bit annoyed but in general I’m satisfied.”

Canada claimed a try through centre Ryan Smith with fly-half Ander Monro dropping two goals. Full-back James Pritchard kicked two penalties and converted Smith’s score.

Scorers for France: Tries: Clerc 3, Traille. Cons: Parra 4. Pens: Parra 5. Drop Goals: Trinh-Duc.

Scorers for Canada: Tries: Smith. Cons: Pritchard. Pens: Pritchard 2. Drop Goals: Monro 2.

FRANCE: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Mermoz, Rougerie, Trinh-Duc, Parra, Poux, Servat, Ducalcon, Pape, Millo-Chluski, Ouedraogo, Bonnaire, Picamoles.

Replacements: Medard for Rougerie (72), Yachvili for Trinh-Duc (69), Barcella for Poux (18), Guirado for Servat (53), Harinordoquy for Ouedraogo (75).

CANADA: Pritchard, Hearn, van der Merwe, Smith, P. Mackenzie, Monro, Fairhurst, Buydens, Riordan, Marshall, Sinclair, Cudmore, Kleeberger, O’Toole, Carpenter.

Replacements: Trainor for van der Merwe (63), Dala for Fairhurst (62), Hotson for Cudmore (60).

Referee: C Joubert (South Africa)