Match Report: France defeat Morocco 34-10 in Avignon

A young French side ran in six tries as they overcame stubborn Morocco 34-10 in the first men’s senior international of the year. The match was held at the Parc Des Sports, Avignon but designated as a Morocco home fixture.

France coach, Maxime Greseque, commented: “We set up a young team, it was enthusiastic, I think we played well. Morocco also performed really well with a lot of pride of passion, and we are happy to earn this victory.”

Scrum half Mathis Dall’asta – who finished with 14 points – got France off to the perfect start, crossing in the opening minute after Morocco had kicked out on the full. France continued to press with winger Quentin Crunel finding space out wide to go over, Dall’astra failing to add the conversion, his only miss of the afternoon.

Baptiste Pourchi-Aventini made it three tries in nine minutes in a blistering start by Les Bleues, a deep kick being twice hacked on by hooker Mahault Beauvilliers, Pourchi-Aventini side footing the ball over the line and touching down.

Prop Naji Anas got Morocco off the mark, running a great line on a reverse angle to bulldoze through on the left-hand side, and France were reduced to 12 men when Anthony Munico was sin binned for a dangerous tackle but held on to lead 16-4 at the break.

Heavy rain slowed down the play, but Yann Doutres Pedragosa went over on an overlap on the right ten minutes into the second half, and Pourchi-Aventini showed great pace after breaking free on half-way on the hour mark to complete his try double.

Hakim Ed Dermoune scooted from dummy-half with 10 minutes remaining to give Morocco a further lift, Kaiss Lafifi with the successful conversion. Shortly afterwards Theo Fouques was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, reducing France to 12 men for the second time in the match.

However, Morocco were unable to take advantage of the extra man and Alexis Lis had the final word for the French, finishing another double kick move started by Dall’astra, near to the posts.

“We struggled to complete our sets at times, but we defended very well and that was down to passion and the hard work of the players,” noted Morocco coach Oliver Janzac. “We lacked a little speed out wide defensively and France exposed us there and they played well. We leave on solid foundations; we spoke of the importance of a good performance and whilst I am not satisfied with the result, I am with that.”

MOROCCO 10
Kaiss Lafifi, Zakaria Hammouch, Sofiane Hemissi, Yannis Ahcini, Yannis Hamri, Hamza Bachoukh, Yliass Lamarti, Houcine Fakir, Hakim Ed Dermoune, Naji Anas, Adam Ed-Diche, Mouadh Bida, Ayoub Mesyani
Interchanges: Abdelaziz Damen, Yanis Hettat, Yassine Al Gannfoufi, Yassin Messaoudi. 18th Player: Yassin Nidouarab

Tries: Anas (17), Ed Dermoune (69)
Goals: Lafifi 1/2

FRANCE 34
Zachary Santo, Quentin Crunel, Romeo Tropis, Yann Doutres Pedragosa, Baptiste Pourchi-Aventini, Lenny Chachoua, Mathis Dall’asta, Alexis Lis, Mahault Beauvilliers, Theo Fouques, Luc Brocas, Anthony Munico, Felix Aubrey
Interchanges: Marc Pena Argeles, Sacha Kouassi, Athur Salles, Mathis Frayssinous. 18th Player: Rayan Bonte

Tries: Dall’asta (1), Crunel (6), Pourchi-Aventini (9, 59), Doutres Pedragosa (51), Lis (76)
Goals: Dall’asta 5/6

Sin Bin: Munico (26 - dangerous tackle), Fouques (71 – high tackle)