WOLLONGONG, Australia, 1 November 2003 — Brian Liebenberg completed a hat trick of tries as France demolished the United States 41-14 yesterday to finish their World Cup pool matches with maximum points.
Liebenberg crossed twice inside the first 18 minutes then grabbed a third try midway through the second half as the French racked up their fourth big win of the tournament to top Pool B and set up a quarterfinal against either Ireland or Australia.
“We’re feeling confident, we are getting better both physically and technically,” France captain Yannick Bru said.
“But we hope the Wallabies beat Ireland because it will be very difficult for us to beat the Wallabies at home.”
The Americans, who beat Japan earlier in the week to end a 16-year losing streak at the World Cup, scored two tries through lock Kort Schubert and flyhalf Mike Hercus but were no match for the French even though the Europeans fielded a second-string team.
“France are a class act and I think they’ll go very far in the tournament,” Eagles captain Dave Hodges said.
“The way they’re playing now, and that was their second team playing the same way, I reckon they can go all the way to the final.”
The French imposed their authority from the outset, winning three early tight-head scrums to take control of the forward battle, and provided the backs with enough time and space to launch their attacking raids.
Aided by a stiff wind, France raced to 26-0 lead with three first-half tries, then scored two more with the breeze in their face.
Flyhalf Gerald Merceron opened the scoring with two early penalties before outside centre Liebenberg crossed for the opening try in the 14th minute.
French fullback Clement Poitrenaud made the initial break, then swung the ball left for Liebenberg to dive over in the left corner.
The South African-born Liebenberg scored again four minutes later in almost identical position when France won a scrum against the feed and slipped the ball out to give him a free run to the line.
The Eagles spent most of the first half camped in their own half but came close to scoring when winger David Fee was bundled into touch inches from the line.
US lock Alec Parker returned the favor when he stopped French scrumhalf Dmitri Yachvili from scoring in the corner but the Europeans responded with a try from tight-head prop Jean Baptiste Poux and a late penalty from Merceron to go the break leading 26-0.
The US began the second half strongly, scoring two quick tries only to let the French hit back on each occasion.
Schubert charged over two minutes after the re-start when he ran on to a clever short pass from Hercus but France replied six minutes later when Liebenberg crossed for his third. Hercus, who was raised in Australia, scored his team’s second try when he fooled the defense with a dummy and darted through a hole near the line but again France responded straight away with a try from Bru.
Yachvili kicked a neat left-footed drop goal from the base of a ruck 17 minutes from time for the last score.
“I’m proud of the effort the boys have made throughout the tournament,” US coach Tom Billups said.
“I’m very excited that the plans I have made with my staff are starting to bear fruit. Our team was improving throughout the tournament and no coach in the World Cup can ask for more than that.”
