Rugby Union: Lacroix inspires French renaissance

France. . . . . . .29

South Africa. . . .16

IF A week of self-analysis followed by minor surgery wrought no miracles in the French side, at least their performance in the second Test against the Springboks was a distinct improvement on their display in the first at Lyons last week.

On that occasion Pierre Berbizier, the French coach, had been let down by his players and by the wretched inaccuracy of his goal-kickers. This time there was at least commendable application, particularly in the forwards, and a mighty display of goal-kicking from Thierry Lacroix, who scored 19 points from five penalties and two conversions.

The self-doubt and uncertainty remained, however, especially behind the scrum, where France had neither the pace nor the handling skills to embarrass seriously the Springboks' defence. It is possible that next week there could still be a coup d'equipe, but Berbizier's position as coach is a great deal more secure now than it was a week ago.

The French heroes were all in the pack. Abdel Benazzi, whose fragile peace with last week's sparring partner Adri Geldenhuys was maintained until the Springbok lock left the field injured in the second half, formed a fast and furiously aggressive partnership in the second row with Olivier Roumat, the enfant terrible of French rugby now at last fulfilling his potential.

Then there was the magnificent Laurent Cabannes, who once again played out of his skin and was quite simply out of this world. Angular and awkward he may be, but nature knew what she was doing when she assembled him. His tackling and speed to the loose ball were phenomenal. If his handling was not up to the same standard, at least he was not alone.

It was entirely appropriate that Cabannes should have played the major role in the first try of the game, which came eight minutes into the second half and effectively turned the match in France's favour despite a Springbok recovery later on. After a bullocking charge by Philippe Benetton, Cabannes carried the move along the right touchline, drawing the cover before putting Jean-Baptiste Lafond away.

Lafond, whose lack of appetite for the fray could hardly have been more obvious, was brought down short of the line. But Roumat, acting as he had done throughout as an auxiliary loose forward, was up in support to scramble over for a try which Lacroix converted.

How unfortunate and inappropriate then that Cabannes should have also been the one to have played a major role in the Springboks' try 10 minutes from the end, which threw a lifeline to the tourists. He fumbled a pass in midfield and from there Jacques Olivier made ground inside the French 22-metre line before Danie Gerber got over under the posts.

Had France possessed anyone of pace and penetration outside the scrum, they would have been spared the agony of those last 10 minutes. On numerous occasions Lafond, Lacroix and Saint Andre were set on their way with a couple of yards' advantage over their pursuers, but were all too quickly closed down.

Lafond eventually retired to be replaced by Sebastien Viars and, a few minutes before that, Geldenhuys, whose contribution to the Springboks' stricken line-out had been minimal, had also made his exit to be replaced by Drikus Hattingh.

Not that it made one whit of difference to the Springboks' success rate in this department or to the throwing in of Willy Hills, which was almost as far off line as Brian Kinsey's interpretation of the offside law. For the first half-hour it appeared that this was a law with which Mr Kinsey was not familiar, although he did wise up to it later on. When he did, the Springboks were done for.

It was no coincidence that it was hereabouts that the French began to gain in confidence and that Lacroix, who had missed with two early kicks at goal, began to find his length and line. The power, accuracy and persistence of the French tackling was taking a terrible toll of the Springboks' reserves of strength and confidence, and, without the semblance of a line- out or a solid scrummage base, they had no cohesive strategy.

Naas Botha, who has had to carry the main burden of criticism for some of the Springboks' displays on the tour so far, played, for the most part, sensibly, especially in the early stages when the Springboks were at their liveliest. He mixed his game astutely, moving the ball on the rare occasions when he was given room from his forwards, and gaining vast tracts of territory with his kicking. He also kicked two penalties and dropped a goal from one of the few clean line-outs taken by Adolf Malan.

Gerber's try put a totally false complexion on the game, but this French side was made of steelier stuff than the one which played last week. Against the tourists' shifting scrummage the French made a final surge towards the line. Alain Penaud checked, jinked and dived over for the try which put the result beyond doubt and the difference between the sides into proper prospective.

FRANCE: J-L Sadourny (Colomiers); J-B Lafond (Begles), F Mesnel (Racing), T Lacroix (Dax), P Saint-Andre (Montferrand); A Penaud (Brive), A Hueber (Toulon); L Armary (Lourdes), J-M Gonzales (Bayonne), P Gallart (Beziers), A Benazzi (Agen), O Roumat (Dax), P Benetton (Agen), M Cecillon (Bourgoin, capt), L Cabannes (Racing Club). Replacement: S Viars (Brive) for Lafond (55 min).

SOUTH AFRICA: H Reece-Edwards (Natal); J Small (Transvaal), D Gerber (Western Province), P Muller (Natal), J Olivier (Northern Transvaal); N Botha (Northern Transvaal, capt), G Wright (Transvaal); J Styger (Orange Free State), W Hills (Northern Transvaal), H Rodgers (Transvaal), A Geldenhuys (Eastern Province), A Malan (Northern Transvaal), W Bartmann (Natal), T Strauss (Western Province), A Richter (Northern Transvaal). Replacement: D Hattingh (Northern Transvaal) for Geldenhuys (49 min).

Referee: B Kinsey (Australia).

Scores: Botha (pen, 28 min) 0-3, Lacroix (pen, 30 min) 3-3, Lacroix (pen, 34 min) 6-3, Botha (drop goal, 38 min) 6-6, Lacroix (pen, 42 min) 9- 6, Roumat/Lacroix (try/conv, 48 min) 16-6, Lacroix (pen, 57 min) 19-6, Lacroix (pen, 63 min) 22-6, Botha (pen, 68 min) 22-9, Gerber/Botha (try/conv, 70 min) 22-16, Penaud/Lacroix (try/conv, 82 min) 29-16.

(Photograph omitted)