Rugby League World Cup continues with Pool A action featuring France v Greece – a debut for Greece at the World Cup and a first meeting between the two sides.
Our Group A France v Greece Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
France 34 Greece 12 Match Summary
Who’d think you’d ever see France taking on Greece in a rugby league match, but it happened in Monday night’s (UK Time) second Pool A fixtures. And it was more entertaining than we gave it credit for pre-game.
After a lively enough opening France were the team to get the scoring underway for the game, and it was simple enough for the French side. After a decent set that got within ten metres of the Greek line, prop Jordan Dezaria simply powered his way to the line and reached out to score beside the posts. An easy conversion gave France a 6-0 after 10 minutes.
Greece had an excellent chance for their first World Cup points from the 16th minute on the back of a Siteni Taukamo line break from a tap restart and a subsequent penalty close to the line, but winger Johnny Mitsias dropped the ball with a good chance on offer. Mitsias was also overlooked in the previous set with the line open. The Greek side made another half break not long after, showing that France were not going to get it all the their own way.
France extended their lead by two points courtesy of a penalty goal in the 24th minute to lead 8-0.
Greece continued to be inventive in attack with chip kicks and early tackle cross field kicks, but were unable to turn it into points, although it was entertaining.
However for all of the Greek’s daring attacking work, they were unable to stop France from scoring again on the half hour mark. Tony Gigot was the scorer as he chased best from a Arthur Mourgue grubber that bounced all over the place and was one bounce away from going dead. The conversion made it 14-0 to France.
France scored again in the 35th minute and it was pretty soft from the Greek defense as French second rower Benjamin Jullien crashed close to the line one pass from dummy half in a worryingly easy style for the Greeks. France led 20-0 after the easy conversion.
HALF TIME – FRANCE 20 GREECE 0
It took seven minutes for France to extend their lead, and it was five eighth Arthur Mourgue who got the four pointer. A come back didn’t look likely from here for Greece, so as a neutral you’d hope they could get some points in their first World Cup match. It wasn’t through a lack of trying as they continued their daring attacking play.
Those first points came in the 56th minute as Siteni Taukamo from a perfectly weighted grubber kick into space Jordan Meads who showed great vision to see the opportunity. Lachlan Ilias converted to make the score 26-6.
Greece then showed some real resilience minutes later they saved a certain French try from a bomb, then lit up the Donacaster stadium with a break to Siteni Taukamo which ended in a drop out for France. The French took too long to kick the ball and were penalised giving Greece another golden opportunity to score. They forced another drop out that the French took on time. Greece weren’t able to score but were applying plenty of pressure on France.
France, showing some decent respect to the Greeks, took two points for a penalty in front of the posts in the 66th minute to extend the lead to 28-6 and gain the momentum back.
France eventually scored again with six minutes to go through Benjamin Jullien who finished off a simple backline passing move. The conversion made it 34-6.
In a fitting end to the match, Greece put on the try of the night, once again with great flare in attack. Early in the tackle count Jordan Meads supplied the perfect cross field kick for Nick Mougios on their own 40 metre line which landed on his chest. The Greek centre then charged down the sideline and weaved around and through the chasing French defense to end the game with a little bit of excitement.
France were good enough, but lacked the firepower and kicking game that you would think would trouble England or Samoa in their upcoming games. For Greece, they certainly won’t beat either of those teams, but their expansive attacking game was refreshing, and with a little more luck could have seen them push Greece on the scoreboard a little more. They were certainly not out of their depth and will be better for the game. They did keep France to just 14-12 in the second half. In saying that, their defense is a worry if England play like they did in their first game.
For the stats fans, that was the second consecutive 34-12 result after New Zealand’s win over Lebanon the night before.
FINAL SCORE
FRANCE 34
Tries:
Jordan Dezaria 8′
Tony Gigot 29′
Benjamin Jullien 33′
Arthur Mourgue 47′
Benjamin Jullien 74′
Goals:
Arthur Mourgue 7/7
GREECE 12
Tries:
Siteni Taukamo 55′
Nick Mougios
Goals:
Lachlan Ilias 2/2
POINTS OF INTEREST
- The French kicking game left a lot to be desired, or even very ordinary at times. With better kicking could have been a much bigger win. Lachlan Ilias had less to work with in the Greek side but had the better kicking game on the night. Although the conversion kicking from Arthur Mourgue was very good at 100%.
- The trumpet in the background from the crowd was a welcome sounds, and one hopes a smart NRL club tries to bring to the NRL comp next year.
- If you don’t believe that Lachlan Ilias has sharpened up his defense as 2022 went on, look to his brilliant cover tackle on a French break in the 15th minute.
- What a shame Billy Magoulias never got a decent run at NRL. He is a talent wasted but not playing more top grade.
- South Sydney’s representatives for Greece were very good, and Souths fans should look forward to seeing more of Peter Mamouzelos next season.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
3 Pts Benjamin Garcia
2 Pts Siteni Taukamo
1 Pt Benjamin Jullien
France 34 Greece 12 Match Stats
France v Greece Teams
FRANCE
1 Morgan Escare
2 Arthur Romano
3 Samisoni Langi
4 Matthieu Laguerre
5 Fouad Yaha
6 Arthur Mourgue
7 Tony Gigot
8 Jordan Dezaria
9 Alrix Da Costa
10 Lambert Belmas
11 Benjamin Jullien
12 Paul Seguier
13 Benjamin Garcia
14 Eloi Pelissier
15 Justin Sangare
17 Mickaël Goudemand
19 Corentin Le Cam
GREECE
1 Chaise Robinson
2 Siteni Taukamo
3 Terry Constantinou
4 Nick Mougios
5 Johnny Mitsias
6 Lachlan Ilias
7 Jordan Meads
8 Robert Tuliatu
9 Peter Mamouzelos
16 Sebastian Sell
11 Mitchell Zampetides
12 Nicholas Flocas
13 Billy Magoulias
14 Jake Kambos
15 Myles Gal
17 Theodoros Nianiakas
18 Aris Dardamanis
France v Greece Pre Match Stats
- Greece’s last international match was an 82-6 shellacking of Serbia in November 2019, which is quite the turnaround as Serbia beat them in their previous match by 50-8.
- France have won four of their last five internationals – beating Scotland, Ireland and Wales but not England.
- France have won five internationals in a row against European sides that aren’t England or GB. They’ve also won 22 of their last 25 v European teams (minus England).
France v Greece Preview
This is the first ever meeting between France and Greece, and we have no doubt there’ll be more than a few who will be realising that Greece has a rugby league side at all.
France have been a regular at the Rugby League World Cup without causing much of a ripple, but should find Greece easier to beat. Most of their players come from the Catalans and Toulouse teams in the Super League who had mixed seasons. Catalans were best with a 4th placing, while Toulouse finished dead last.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lachlan Ilias is the big name for Greece, and it has been a great first full season for the Rabbitohs halfback. He doesn’t have quite the same
France v Greece Predictions
France 20 Greece 14
