France vs Fiji Championship of Nations player ratings, Digi Mart USA News (Lyon, France): Rugbyrama has published its player ratings for France’s Championship of Nations match against Fiji, played Saturday evening in Lyon. Antoine Dupont was the standout performer, earning 8.5 out of 10 for a commanding display at scrum-half.
Dupont tried to speed up the French game from the start, playing quick tap penalties and quick ball that unsettled the Fijian defense in the first half. He distributed the ball with good timing and controlled the tempo, and he also produced moments of creativity, including a decisive chip pass that led to Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang’s try.
He finished the match by scoring a try himself in the 79th minute.
Sipili Falatea received 7.5 out of 10 after being one of the few French forwards not intimidated by the Fijian physicality in the first half. He made several direct carries that moved the team forward and contributed to two free kicks and a penalty won at the scrum.
Falatea also scored a try in the 32nd minute, though a miscommunication with Mickaël Guillard cost France an advantage situation.
Yoram Moefana was rated 8 out of 10 and was described as one of the French standouts. He was rarely beaten in defense, worked well alongside Kalvin Gourgues, and quickly asserted physical dominance in the collisions.
His two powerful carries in the build-up to Jean-Baptiste Gros’s try in the 15th minute set the tone. Moefana was replaced late in the match by Emilien Gailleton.
Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang earned 7 out of 10, the most visible member of the French attacking trio, especially in the first half. He scored a personal try in the 36th minute after a kick he had chased was poorly handled by Botitu.
Kalvin Gourgues was also rated 7 out of 10 and scored a try in the 59th minute, while Romain Ntamack received no rating after leaving the match in the 34th minute with a left shoulder injury that followed Falatea’s try.
Maxime Lucu replaced Ntamack and was rated 7 out of 10, handling the kicking duties with confidence and landing all of his goal attempts. Théo Attissogbe received 6.5 out of 10, improving after an initial error under the high ball and scoring a try in the 64th minute.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey was rated 6 out of 10, a quieter night for the usually prolific winger, who was closely marked by the Fijian defenders.
Among the forwards, Mickaël Guillard was rated 7 out of 10 and was replaced in the 58th minute by Esteban Capilla. Paul Boudehent, rated 6.5 out of 10, was replaced by Tom Staniforth after a late-game ball carry.
Florian Verhaeghe received 5.5 out of 10, while Maxime Lamothe, rated 5 out of 10, struggled in his first start on French soil and was replaced by Peato Mauvaka.
Jean-Baptiste Gros was rated 6.5 out of 10 for his try in the early stages of the match. He was replaced by Jefferson Poirot, who was penalized twice by referee Karl Dickson but recovered with a strong scrum in the 72nd minute.
Cameron Woki earned 6.5 out of 10 for his lineout work and his captaincy role, and François Cros was also rated 6.5 out of 10.
