France and Lebanon meet in the final game of week 1 of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the France and Lebanon game.
FRANCE v LEBANON MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
LEBANON 29 (A. Layoun (8), T. Robinson (40), A. Doueihi (63), M. Moses (76), T. Robinson (80) tries M. Moses 4 Conv goals M. Moses 1 Field Goal (74))
FRANCE 18 (B. Ader (16), B. Ader (52), D. Cardace (68) tries, W. Barthau 2 Conv, 1 Pen Goal)
How Did They Win?
Lebanon got across the line thanks to Mitchell Moses who continued his fine post-Tigers 2018 season with a great performance for the Cedars. They needed the big performance though as France really gave it to them and had every chance of another Sunday afternoon upset.
There wasn’t much in it at all as the teams traded tries through the first half, and with only 10 minutes to go it was deadlocked and deservedly so.
Just the late Mitchell Moses inspired run for Lebanon made all the difference, that little bit of NRL quality shining through. You also can’t deny the strong feeling of togetherness in the team, something that a similar side like Italy could learn from.
What did we learn?
That the France v Lebanon was easily the most entertaining game of the first round of fixtures. Sure there was dropped ball and a few signs that this isn’t the very peak of rugby league, but those who watched can’t deny there was plenty of action.
Teams traded tries throughout, and traded scuffles too as the game got feisty, usually started with some niggling from the Lebanese side.
Mitchell Moses is some kind of player, and a continuation of the form may see a NSW call up.
What was the Moment of the Match?
The big moment of the match was probably the last few minutes as Lebanon won, but perhaps some of the damage was done right on half time as Lebanon crashed over. At the time France were the most dominant side, and the try came against the run of play. And our previous research showed that teams who score in the 5 minutes leading into the break win 80% of the time. Sunday’s game was one that followed that stat.
Any other bits and pieces?
- Good to see Robbie Farah hogs the ball and scowls his way through international football also.
- Patting an opposition player on the head after a mistakes shits us to tears. It started one of the many scuffles throughout the game, but the action is a blight for those who don’t like Jerks ruining sport.
- Lebanon’s number 5 – Abbas Miski – looks like Lebanon’s version of Josh Mansour.
- France’s number 10 – Julian Bousquet looks like Dave “Coal train” Taylor.
- Plenty of niggle and scuffle throughout
- Sweet field goal from Mitchell Moses
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – MITCHELL MOSES – Sensational game from the Eel, kicked the winning field goal, and a try to make it certain not long after.A chip and chase no less.
4 POINTS – MICHAEL LICHAA – Named at 9, started on bench, and made the difference when he came on. Better than Farah?
3 POINTS – BASTIEN ADER – Two tries, and record run metres for either side. Stats for a big game.
2 POINTS – THEO FAGE – Led France around very well, and involved in a lot of their good stuff.
1 POINT – ANTHONY LAHOUN – solid contribution from the back.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: FRANCE v LEBANON
Where and When: Sunday 29 Oct – Canberra
When is it on TV? DELAY 7Mate @ 11:00pm
What’s the Story?
Lebanon really fancy themselves as giant killers in this year’s Rugby League World Cup, and their first fixture gives them a great chance to prove they are capable as they take on France as a warm up to the big guns in Australia and England.
The Cedars feature NRL big names Robbie Farah and Mitchell Moses and are being coached by the current favourite for the NSW Blues job in 2018 – Brad Fittler. The fact that Robbie Farah has been moved to halfback to accommodate Michael Lichaa at hooker is a sign of the strength they have.
France have no such stars and are relatively unknown for rugby league fans in this hemisphere. That’s half the fun of this World Cup.
Who Will Win and Why?
Lebanon have the strength of NRL stars in key positions, and that is likely to give them a big advantage over the French. Farah, despite having many detractors, is still a quality player and organiser on the football field, and should be a handful for France.
Lebanon by 18
Who to watch for?
Mitchell Moses. He pissed a number of Tigers fans in 2017 off with his wantaway stand in the middle of the season, but the performances speak for themselves once he landed in Parramatta. Can he repeat that form for Lebanon and guide them to Rugby League World greatness. Lebanon will need it to.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
FRANCE
- Mark Kheriallah 2. Fouad Yaha 3. Bastien Ader 4. Damien Cardace 5. Ilias Bergal 6. Theo Fages (c) 7. William Barthau 8. Antoni Maria 9. Eloi Pelissier 10. Julian Bousquet 11. Benjamin Garcia 12. Benjamin Jullien 13. Jason Baitieri 14. Clement Boyer 15. Nabil Djalout 16. Thibault Margalet 17. Lucas Albert 18. John Boudebza 19. Olivier Arnoud 20. Mickael Rouch 21. Romain Navarrete
LEBANON
- Anthony Layoun 2. Travis Robinson 3. James Elias 4. Jason Wehbe 5. Abbas Miski 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Robbie Farah 8. Timothy Mannah 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Alex Twal 11. Chris Saab 12. Ahmad Elliaz 13. Nick Kassis 14. Mitchell Mamary 15. Elias Sukkar 16. Jaleel Seve-Derbas 17. Andrew Kazzi 18. Adam Doueihi 19. Bilal Maarbani 20. Jamie Clark 21. Danny Barakat
