France’s wheelchair side won both encounters with Ireland over the weekend at the Halle Marcel Cerdan in Perpignan. Lionel Alazard posted five tries and 17 out of 18 goals in the Saturday game, won 106-16, Damien Dore and debutant Thibaud Dananchy both with hat tricks. France wheelchair head coach, Cyril Torres, commented: “It has been very valuable for us and a big opportunity in terms of our World Cup preparations. I know my squad for the World Cup and the plan now is that the boys have three weeks free and in August and September train three days a week in readiness.”
Ireland were ahead in the Sunday match, leading 26-20 at half time, Joseph Calcott bagging five tries in all but Leo Hivernat, who also kicked six goals, scored four touchdowns in a 66-36 home triumph. Ireland wheelchair head coach, Phil Roberts, commented: “The whole experience has been priceless. The French showed in terms of their skill execution and speed with which they played, the level of intensity and preparation we should be aspiring to.
“We knew we’d be undercooked by comparison, but I was really happy with some of the things we did, some of our scramble defense was good. We talked all week about stress testing and what that means and deliberately challenging ourselves. As long as we learn, I leave as a happy coach.” Roberts added: “We’ve got two more camps between now and the World Cup in October to take away the learnings from this.”
Saturday 11th July
France 106
Jerome Seixas, Julien Penella, Damien Dore, Florian Guttadoro, Lionel Alazard
Interchanges: Thibauld Dananchy, Dany Denuwaeler, Nicolas Claussells
Tries: Alazard (5, 28, 35, 76), Dore (9, 56, 67), Dananchy (22, 30, 38), Clausells (24), Denuwaelere (41, 64), Penella (50, 72), Guttadoro (53, 60), Seixas (69)
Goals: Alazard 17/18
Ireland 16
Joseph Calcott, Cian Horgan, James McCarthy, Toby Burton-Carter, Peter Johnston
Interchanges: Oran Spain, Tom Martin, Jack Mangan
Tries: Calcott (9), Burton-Carter (20), Horgan (63)
Goals: Johnston 2/2, Burton-Carter (0/1)
Referees: Laurent Bonnet (France) & David Butler (England)
Half Time: 48-16
Sunday 12th July
France 66
Jorge Panzo, Gilles Clausells, Jeremy Bourson, William Drouard, Leo Hivernat
Interchanges: Adrian Zittel, Jerome Seixas, Damien Dore
Tries: Hivernat (13, 43, 68, 70), Panzo (32), Clausells (37, 53, 63), Zittel (47, 76, 78)
Goals: Leo Hivernat 6/7, Gilles Clausells 5/5
Ireland 36
Cian Horgan, Mel Griffith, Joseph Calcott, Tom Martin, Phil RobertsInterchanges:
Interchanges: Orain Spain, Jack Mangan, Toby Burton-Carter
Tries: Joseph Calcott (5, 10, 18, 22, 59), Cian Horgan (28, 57)
Goals: Cian Horgan 4/7
Referees: David Roig (France) & Fabien Lartigues (France)
Half Time: 20-26
