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CARDIFF -- Wales gave a two-time defending champions response to a demoralizing defeat by whipping France 27-6 and keeping its Six Nations title defence alive on Friday. Kate Spade Outlet Online store . So shaken to the core was Wales by its 26-3 demolition from Ireland, the only unbeaten team left in the championship, that coach Warren Gatland warned his British Lions-laden side that careers were on the line under the Millennium Stadium roof. The players answer was a robust performance of power, pace and poise, adding up to a third straight win over France last achieved 42 years ago. "That was the response we were looking for," captain Sam Warburton said. "We knew we had it in us." He admitted playing for their jobs was also an incentive. "We said in the week that we dont want to take our places for granted. We have probably worked our hardest in the last two weeks," he said. Stand-in centre George North scored after five minutes and fullback Leigh Halfpennys boot punished frequent French errors and a second-rate scrum with five penalties that propped up a 20-6 halftime lead. When Warburton reached out to plant the ball on the line in the 64th, the score became Wales biggest win over France at home since 1950. That margin will be vital in terms of points difference in the standings if Wales, which jumped over previously unbeaten France into second place, can stay on track and Ireland lose somewhere. The Irish are at Twickenham on Saturday. Wales performance wasnt assured beforehand, certainly not after lock Alun-Wyn Jones, who captained the Lions in their series-clinching win in Australia last year, withdrew just before the match with a foot injury. That gave a second Welshman, Jake Ball, his first test start beside scrumhalf Rhys Webb, whose zippy pass was a big factor in Wales frantic start. Five minutes in, lineout ball was spread left and inside centre Jamie Roberts drew two defenders. North gave Halfpenny an overlap and he chipped ahead. France fullback Bruce Dulin claimed the ball just before the tryline, but he was accidentally clipped in the head by teammate Jean-Marc Doussain and dropped the ball, which North pounced on in goal. Halfpenny couldnt convert. He seemed to kick only the hardest goalkicks, and France kept giving him chances, especially from a scrum that Wales eventually got on top of. Captain Pascal Pape conceded the second penalty from a ruck, and tighthead prop Nicolas Mas the third for slipping in a scrum. Wesley Fofana was milked by North in a ruck for Halfpennys fourth, and a tighthead conceded just before halftime ended up giving Halfpenny his fifth penalty. Moments before then, referee Alain Rolland told both captains the scrum was a mess and threatened to dish out cards. He upheld his promise in the 50th, sin-binning Mas and counterpart Gethin Jenkins. By then, Wales was in charge and the outmuscled French had few options. "It was a catastrophic first half, our discipline was poor, and we gave away too many penalties," France coach Philippe Saint-Andre said. "We were totally apathetic in the first half." Dulin said, "They got on top of us very quickly and we couldnt pull ourselves together. We didnt go about things the right way. "We didnt start the game well and they just gained in confidence. After their match against Ireland they really wanted to put their foot down." France had a try rightfully disallowed early in the first half for a knockon, but the backs received no ball and didnt go close again until the 50th, when centre Mathieu Bastareaud slipped North and was stopped just short of the tryline, and couldnt offload to Dulin or winger Hugo Bonneval. The French backs were more involved in the second half, but Wales defence was smothering. Frustrated No. 8 Louis Picamoles got himself sin-binned in the 62nd and Wales took advantage. From a Roberts barging run up the middle, Warburton charged off a ruck and just managed in a double tackle with an outstretched arm to put the ball on the line. With 10 minutes to go, Wales substituted Adam Jones and Jenkins, Ball, Dan Lydiate, Webb, Rhys Priestland and Halfpenny, and all were cheered off as returning heroes deserve to be. Kate Spade Outlet Online . Play hard, play tough and play rough. The philosophy has been a lesson in frustration for opponents.Kate Spade Outlet . The Browns have relaxed their media limitations to see rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel practice.AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Fullback Israel Dagg and centre Sonny Bill Williams were surprisingly included in a rejigged New Zealand backline full of startling choices by coach Graham Henry for Fridays World Cup opener against Tonga. Dagg, who thought his World Cup hopes were over when he tore his right thigh muscle off the bone in May, has replaced Mils Muliaina, who is two tests away from playing his 100th. Williams, considering an option to leave New Zealand after the tournament because he wasnt doing enough to break up the Maa Nonu-Conrad Smith midfield partnership, was slotted in at inside centre and Nonu moved out to 13. Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava were also picked on the wings ahead of the teams only specialists Cory Jane, who was in the reserves, and Zac Guildford. Kahui will start on a wing for New Zealand for the first time since 2008. Scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan and flyhalf Dan Carter will begin their 25th test together, but reserve No. 9 Piri Weepu will come off the bench some time to mark his 50th cap. Only Carter and Nonu have retained spots in the backline from the side which lost the Tri-Nations decider to Australia two weeks ago in Brisbane. The All Blacks coaches had promised to send out close to their best 15, but without veterans Muliaina, Smith and Keven Mealamu -- none of whom were in the reserves -- the backline, at least, had an experimental look. "We dont know whos going to be standing and whos not by the end of the tournament, so youve got to give players an opportunity to force their abilities on the selectors," Henry said. The forwards were far more settled, led out by flanker Richie McCaw for the 62nd time in his 99th test. McCaw and Muliaina, the All Blacks record test caps holders, were expected to reach triple figures together next week against Japan, but McCaw looks set to reach the milestone first. With Mealamu rested, 55-capped Andrew Hore will start at hooker, backed up by Corey Flynn. Remarkably, Brad Thorn and Ali Williams were also the starting locks against Tonga at the 2003 World Cup, when the teams last met. While No. 8 Kieran Read continues his recovery from torn ankle ligamentts that might not make him available until the quarterfinals, Victor Vito will start his first test in a year. Kate Spade Handbags Outlet. Reserve lock Anthony Boric, following a foot injury in the Super 15 playoffs, has made his first All Blacks team this year, and regular lock Sam Whitelock will be the backup loose forward, even though he hasnt played there since the start of 2010. Henry said Dagg was not the No. 1 fullback in the team, but that Muliaina was going through a "flat patch." "He has been one of the top fullbacks in the world for some time, played outstanding for a long time, but hes having a flat patch," Henry said. "Knowing Mils, hell respond to that." Dagg amazed the selectors with the speed of his recovery, and played only a game each for his club and province before he was thrown into the Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth with other World Cup hopefuls. That primarily second-string team lost 18-5 and Dagg was the lone star. "It was a fluky performance," Dagg said. Henry knew otherwise. "The selectors didnt think hed make it (to the World Cup) but we were hoping he would," Henry said. "Now he knows he is up for potential selection in the top team and thats extra pressure. He is obviously talented but inexperienced." Rugby league convert Williams declined to talk about his contract dispute with the New Zealand Rugby Union, and rather his upcoming eighth cap. "Im really excited. Im concentrating on playing this week," Williams said "Everything else is irrelevant to me." Henry said Smith will start in the pool game against Japan next week, but in the meantime they wanted to match the physical Tongans. "Weve got a big midfield against their big midfield," Henry said. ------ New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Richard Kahui, Maa Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Isaia Toeava, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Anthony Boric, Sam Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Colin Slade, Cory Jane. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
