Rugby World Cup: France 41-18 Canada

1. Pool D FT: France 41-18 Canada
2. Fofana, Guirado, Slimani, Pape, Grosso tries for France
3. Van der Merwe, Carpenter tries for Canada
4. Michalak now France's all-time leading RWC points scorer
5. Click on live coverage tab for 5 live radio commentary

Rightio. Time to head for the hills. Phil Shepka's report is up on the BBC website for you to have a peruse of.

I'll see you next time.

Merwe the Swerve

Gett

And among the Canadian team, DTH van der Merwe looked a cut above.

He made 80 metres - 27 more than any team-mate - and beat four defenders - another top total for Canada.

Freddie Star

Getty

No doubt about France's star man tonight.

Freddie Michalak revelled in the extra half-second of time and half-yard of space.

He beat six defenders and made two clean breaks - both team-high totals. And all from fly-half.

Could he be as effective against the really big teams though? 

Next in RWC 2015...

What is next on the conveyor belt of quality rugby then?

Well, tomorrow sees New Zealand get their teeth into Georgia.

Then Saturday is a right smorgasbord.

Samoa v Japan to start with Scotland v South Africa for mains and England v Australia for afters.

That is a richer diet than Mr Creosote's.

Ireland and France meet on Sunday 11 October.

France captain Thierry Dusautoir is asked about that little contest and he promises that his side will be up for it.

'Well oiled machine'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

AP

For the first 20 minutes France looked like a well oiled machine. Canada came back into it but the old France turned up after half time. They could be a threat on their day."

Reuters

Well, that was thoroughly enjoyable.

France won't go into their crunch Pool D meeting with Ireland undercooked.

That was a proper hit-out. Full marks to the Canadians who laid it all on the line and matched their passion with plenty of quality.

Full-time

France 41-18 Canada

Brilliant defence from Canada. Ball spilled from French hands. Harry Jones hacks upfield.

France give away a penalty as they try and recover. And Canada run it.

France 41-18 Canada

France are pressing for more points. A penalty within range and two minutes to go? No doubt. Into the corner.

And France take the line-out cleanly...

France 41-18 Canada

Pressure off and the French are testing out some of their more conceptual work.

Remi Tales chips crossfield towards Alex Dumoulin from inside his own 22m. Just too much sauce on it.

But very nice idea.

Get Involved

Converted try

Reuters

Oh yes. Just.

Remy Grosso has just about grounded the ball in time after nice work by replacement half-back combo Morgan Parra and Remi Tales.

Parra steps up and strokes over the extras. I imagine he is a very sensitive lover.

Try review

Reuters

Remy Grosso dives in at the corner. Ball down before his toe streaks through the paint? Let's find out...

France 34-18 Canada

Canada almost shoot themselves in the foot as Ciaran Hearn drops the ball at the feet of the French, but Conor Trainor is across to clear up the mess.

France on top

Despite a valiant effort from Canada, France have had just too much for them. Only DTH van der Merwe has made it into the top five for metres made from the Canadian side.

BBC Sport

France 34-18 Canada

Tonight's attendance is a record for Stadium:MK, built in 2007, of 28,145. 

France 34-18 Canada

A slicing break from Alex Dumoulin, fresh off the bench. France are pressing for a fifth try. Nanyak Dala leaps in to scrag Morgan Parra, but is offside.

That is a yellow for the Canada replacement.

Replacement

Ch-ch-changes.

Frederic Michalak and flanker Bernard Le Roux come off to be replaced by Remi Tales and Yannick Nyanga.

Oh and Mathieu Bastareaud is done. On comes  Alexandre Dumoulin.

Get involved

'It's been coming'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

That's a score that has been coming for a few minutes."

Converted try

Pascal Pape decides that he can get the ball over the line without putting his body on the line.

The second row picks and plonks the ball over the whitewash from close range when Canada's men on the fringes were braced for a full-blooded drive.

His arms are just long enough.

Freddie Michalak steps up and boots over.

Try review

Has Pascal Pape got that down?

The video official is having a look...

Still in the balance

Canada are working extremely hard to remain in this game. There is not a massive amount between the sides now, barring the all-important points cushion that the French hold.

BBC Sport

France 27-18 Canada

AFP

France are still asking some pretty searching questions. Tackle, tackle, tackle. It's relentless for the underdogs at the moment.

France 27-18 Canada

Reuters

Ouch! 

Mathieu Bastareaud is ploughing his way towards the line, when across comes replacement Evan Olmstead to put in a big enough hit to dislodge the ball.

And rearrange team-mate Harry Jones' chops.

The Canada full-back departs with a bleeding mouth and Conor Trainor is on.

France 27-18 Canada

AP

France are massing dangerously on the Canada line. Centimetres to go.

Replacement

Right, Philippe Saint-Andre pumps fresh blood into his French side.

On come Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty and Morgan Parra. 

Off go Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous and Sebastien Tillous-Borde.

'Effective'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

It's not a thing of beauty the Michalak kick but it keeps Canada at arm's length."

Get Involved

Penalty

Freddie Michalak lines up his sights and prods the kick over. He has been tidy off the tee as well as quick across the ground so far tonight.

France 24-15 Canada

Canada have got a little greedy there. Djustice Sears-Duru has had one nibble too many and JP Doyle points to the sky for a France penalty.

'Leggy France'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Reuters

We've seen an amazing shift in body language. France look leggy all of a sudden."

Penalty

Six points the difference. Twenty-five minutes on the clock.

This could be getting interesting. 

France 24-15 Canada

AFP

Canada spin wide with intent and pace.

Wesley Fofana snaps in on Harry Jones, but Canada's cavalry is there. And Yoann Maestri is offside as the ball is recycled.

This is kickable...

France 24-15 Canada

Quality work from Canada centre Ciaran Hearn who locks on over the top of Scott Spedding after making the tackle and earns the turnover.

Canada with possession on halfway. They have been the better side since the interval.

France 24-15 Canada

Oh la la! Jamie Cudmore flicks a pass between his legs to a team-mate. Don't get many of those in a second row's career.

Replacement

Prop Djustice Sears-Duru on for Hubert Buydens in the Canada front row.

'Scrappy France'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Great bit of pilfering from Jamie Cudmore. Turnover ball inside their own 22m and Canada run it. Where's the space? There might be some out wide, but we never find out for sure as Nathan Hirayama's pass is too far in front of wing Phil MacKenzie.

I hope France don't lose intensity. They have come out a little bit scrappy. They were accurate and played with pace in the first half."

France 24-15 Canada

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

Reuters

I don't know many words in French, but all I can say is the journalist next to me has just bleated out some of the expletives I do know at France's poor passing. He has cause for concern. On paper this should be a cake walk for France.

France 24-15 Canada

France have left their scrummaging shoulders back in the the dressing room. They are pinged again for anticipating the call of engage. 

Nathan Hirayama launches a sky-scraping up and under from the free-kick. Scott Spedding tidies up inside the France 22m.

Penalty

Getty Images

France prop Eddy Ben Arous is buried nose first in the dirt at the resulting scrum.  

Penalty Canada and Nathan Hirayama pops it over to nibble the deficit down to nine points. 

Kick-off

Nathan Hirayama gets us going with a deep kick. France make a complete mess of it - Bernard Le Roux seeing the ball sail over his head.

But Richard Thorpe cannot make the most of it though, knocking on in his excitement and surprise.

Reuters

Right, time to renew hostilities.

No changes for either side as far as I can see. 

Canada in the game

France are ahead but this is not the dominant display we were expecting. Canada have those two tries and are edging possession and territory.

BBC Sport

France 24-12 Canada

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

We've been treated to an excellent evening's rugby so far at Stadium:MK. Canada's players will certainly come off the happier, and so will those backing them in Buckinghamshire. 

There is a French trumpeter sat to my right who would have something to say about that... They've been playing that thing - out of tune - for most of the match to gee up their compatriots. 

France 24-12 Canada

BBC Sport

A 12-point lead is perhaps less of a cushion than France would have wanted.

On the plus side they are three quarters of the way to a bonus point for scoring four tries. 

Superb Van der Merwe

Canada's DTH van der Merwe is having a World Cup to remember so far...

Getty Images

Scarlets were ahead of the game on this one.

Van der Merwe is Scarlets-bound after the World Cup after six seasons at Glasgow.

'Fantastic game'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Reuters

Fantastic stuff. When France are on the ball they are in the mood to play. Canada are showing fantastic enterprise. We're all set for an exciting second half."

France 24-12 Canada

Half-time

Reuters

Just over 28,000 people stuffed into Stadium MK.

They still shouldn't have taken this game from Plough Lane though.

Converted try

AP

France's set-piece has been slick and streetwise.

They heat up another line-out routine that they had prepared earlier. This one is a throw to the back of the line and then a post round the corner to a second pod of pushers who break away and over the line from five metres out.

Rabah Slimani is the try-scorer, Freddie Michalak is the converter in chief.

France 17-12 Canada

A brief hold-up in play.

JP Doyle is suffering from a communications malfunction. He can't hear his assistants so a minion comes to plug him back in.

France 17-12 Canada

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

Reuters

You can certainly tell which side the majority is supporting here. France's celebrations were barely a whisper compared to those tries! Can Canada feed of the support of the his near capacity crowd and pull off yet another World Cup upset?

'Brilliant by Canada'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Reuters

That all started on the edge of the Canadian 22. That is brilliant play...the full length of the field. What a fightback by Canada."

Try

Reuters

Canada hooker Aaron Carpenter gets his head down and burrows for the line. No stopping him from that distance. Especially with some flimsy French tackling.

Nathan Hirayama should convert. But doesn't. That was a far easier kick than his last one.

France 17-7 Canada

Canada with an overlap and ten metres to go. Give it! Give it! No!

Kyle Gilmour hangs on and is scragged. 

Canada still have the ball though...

Freddie firing

Frederic Michalak has exerted his influence on this game, including kicking seven points and assisting his side's first try...

Getty Images

'No accident'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

There is lots to admire about the way France are playing but the stadium definitely has a Canadian bias. The try was not an accident. It was well worked and executed."

Converted try

Reuters

A very good try all round. 

Ciaran Hearn leaps like a Canadian salmon to steal the ball ahead of Remy Grosso and France are never allowed to recover.

The ball is spun wide and DTH van der Merwe fixes Sebastien Tillous-Borde with a shimmy and is in at the corner.

Nathan Hirayama with the conversion. It's good!  

France 17-0 Canada

Getty Images

Canada claim their restart and rumble up to within a few metres...

Converted try

Reuters

France's forwards do not allow Freddie Michalak to even get his mitts on the ball. Up the jumper, heads down and over the big boys go from short range.

Guilhem Guirado emerges from the depths to claim the credit. Freddie does get to pop over the extras.  

France 10-0 Canada

France up to within five. Keep it simple this time Freddie...

France 10-0 Canada

Getty Images

Champagne on ice.

What a try that would have!

Freddie Michalak runs the dummy scissors and Jamie Cudmore buys in big time, leaving a hole for the France fly-half to dart through.

Wesley Fofana is in support on his inside shoulder, but there are Canadians in between Michalak and his team-mate.

No matter. Michalak chips beautifully inside, perfect weight, right into Fofana's path.

But the ball bounces agonisingly, awkwardly over his shoulder!

Argh!

'France impressive'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

France are pulling Canada from pillar to post with their direct running. They are attacking with real pace and real accuracy."

France 10-0 Canada

AFP

France zeroing in on the tryline and fast. Damien Chouly galloping forward and handing the baton on to the rampaging Mathieu Bastareaud.

Canadians hanging off his shirt like water-skiers in the wake of a boat.

There are enough of them finally to slow the giant France centre to a stop.

France 10-0 Canada

Great defence from Canada as they buzz around France's attempted driving maul like hornets.

It is the French who are stung by the referee for an accidental offside.

Canada try and clear their lines, but they have failed to find touch....

France 10-0 Canada

Prop Doug Wooldridge's arm slips up around the neck of Wesley Fofana as the France centre attempts to step him.

Nothing malicious. But a penalty. France boot to touch and claim the line-out on the Canada 22m line.

Canada seeing the ball

France have the lead, but Canada are on top in terms of possession and territory...

BBC Sport

Replacement

Reuters

A change for Canada with captain Tyler Ardron gingerly making his way to the sidelines.

The number eight missed the opener against Ireland and his race is run tonight.

Nanyak Dala, who was busy against Italy last time out, is on in his place.

'Perfect start'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Perfect start for France...a brave, exciting counter attack, a bit of calculated kicking and a huge squeeze in the scrum which yielded three points."

Missed drop-goal

AFP

Canada rolling through the phases nicely. Hubert Buydens, Doug Woolridge and Kyle Gilmour all earning hard yards. But they are very hard yards.

Fly-half Nathan Hirayama decides his team are running out of momentum and takes an ambitious drop-goal pop.

Nope, lacking for legs and direction. Canada yet to mark the scoreboard.

Penalty

AP

There she blows.

Michalak becomes France's top point scorer in the Rugby World Cup with 125, one more than Thierry Lacroix.

France 7-0 Canada

France with bulldozer strength at the set-piece. The Canada scrum folds like a crumple zone.

JP Doyle's arm pops up and this is well within Freddie Michalak's range.

France 7-0 Canada

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

AFP

Despite France leading with the fastest try of the World Cup so far, Stadium:MK comes to boiling point every time a Canada player has a sniff of an opening.  The French need to get on top if they want to dampen down the Maple Syruped-up spirits of this crowd.

France 7-0 Canada

Canada's period of pressure comes to an end as Ciaran Hearn spills forward in the centres. They are all decent with the ball in hand though.

That has been a hallmark of the so-called smaller teams at this World Cup. Basic skills that put some of the big boys to shame, probably obtained while their rivals were humping iron around the gym.

France get off to a flier

One break, one try for France. Could be a long night for Canada.

BBC Sport

France 7-0 Canada

AFP

More promise from Canada. Full-back Matt Evans gets the knees pumping and almost gets between Mathieu Bastareaud and Thierry Dusautoir.

Bastareaud's hands in the ruck. Penalty Canada. Play booted up into the France 22m.

France 7-0 Canada

The first sighting of Canada wing DTH van der Merwe. The crowd frizzle with excitement, but France clamp down on the big man.

Line-out to Canada in a promising position, but Thierry Dusautoir has nabbed that one ahead of a red-shirted jumper.

'No-nonsense France'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

AP

France look like they mean business with this tempo. It's a blistering start. It could be a long night for Canada."

Converted try

AFP

Thirty-two years young. And the old magic is still there. Freddie Michalak jinks inside Ciaran Hearn, leaves Phil Mack grasping thin air and accelerates clear.

The cover comes across, but Michalak shovels an off-load out the side door for Wesley Fofana to finish the job.

And then adds the extras.

France 0-0 Canada

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

AFP

I bet Stadium:MK, built just eight years ago, hasn't heard anything like the noise tonight very often. Both national athems were absolutely belted out: there must be more Canadians in Milton Keynes than I realised...

France 0-0 Canada

Jamie Cudmore spills the kick-off. It rolls backwards though and Canada have possession. Not for long though.

Nick Blevins, in the Canada midfield, comes steaming into the side of a ruck. Penalty France.

Michalak's boot takes play up into sight of the Canada 22m line.

'France look strong'

Paul Grayson

Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 live

Getty

Phillipe Saint-Andre has had some strange results and made some strange selections during his time in charge of France but this team from one to 23 looks incredibly strong."

Kick-off

JP Doyle toots his whistle and Freddie Michalak wallops the pigskin deep.

Serge Blanco, carrying a little bit more timber than the days when he tore up the turf, is at the back of the French team's technical box, blasting out the anthem into Philippe Saint-Andre's ear.

Songs sung. Time to get this one on.

Anthems

Reuters

Prince Harry is in the posh seats sat next to RFU president Jason Leonard. Probably just discussing the nightspots ofconcrete-cow city.

The teams march out onto the pristine turf.

 It looks like a pretty full house. First to stretch off the singing voices is Canada...

Line-ups

France: Scott Spedding; Remy Grosso, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani; Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri; Thierry Dusautoir (captain) Bernard Le Roux, Damien Chouly.

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Morgan Parra, Remi Tales, Alexandre Dumoulin.

Canada: Matt Evans; Phil Mackenzie, Ciaran Hearn, Nick Blevins, DTH van der Merwe; Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mack; Hubert Buydens, Aaron Carpenter, Doug Wooldridge; Brett Beukeboom, Jamie Cudmore; Kyle Gilmour, Richard Thorpe, Tyler Ardron (captain).

Replacements: Ray Barkwill, Djustice Sears-Duru, Andrew Tiedemann, Evan Olmstead, Nanyak Dala, Gordon McRo

Time is ticking

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

Getty Images

Speaking to the French journalist next to me, his journey took just 90 minutes on the Eurostar. A fair number of people have trod the same path as him, as when the France team comes out to warm up they are greeted by a warm welcome from Stadium:MK.

But the overwhelming majority seem to be backing the underdog, Canada. Their team was practicing a lot of catching high kicks, which may give us a sign of things to come.

Les Bleus go through team passing drills before breaking into forward and pack groupings. The acceleration on some of the backs up close is quite something. The Canadians have a tough job to keep Frederic Michalak, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin and the like quiet. 

Solid France

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France have not conceded more than 12 points in their last five World Cup games. That run in full:

23 September, 2015 - France 18-11 Romania (pool D)

19 September, 2015 - France 32-10 Italy (pool D)

23 October 2011 - France 7-8 New Zealand (final)

15 October, 2011 - France 9-8 Wales (semi-final)

8 October, 2011 - France 19-12 England (quarter-final)

Welcome to MK

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

Phil Shepka

As the France team got off their coach they were clearly focused on the task in hand, barely giving the adoring crowd a glance of acknowledgement.

You can just make out the very familiar figure of one of Philippe Saint-Andre's 12 changes from the defeat of Romania, centre Mathieu Bastareau, to the right of that rather large wig. Bastareau is even larger in real life than he looks on the telly.

Thankfully, these guys were able to give me a smile to compensate for any lack off visible emotions from the French.

Phil Shepka

How they stand

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The runners-up in Pool D are on a quarter-final collision course with New Zealand.

Ireland and France play each other in the final match in the Pool on Sunday 11 October.

Cuddles Cudmore, Plays for Canada, plays in France... 

And is trying to recruit half his employer's country to the Canadian cause.

Team news

Getty Images

Winger Remy Grosso is set to make his Test debut as France make 12 changes from the side that beat Romania 18-11.

Canada have made six changes from the team that lost 23-18 to Italy.

Inside centre Connor Braid, who broke his jaw in that match, is out of the tournament, but lock Jamie Cudmore will make his 13th World Cup appearance.

The 37-year-old will be just one match behind the national record of 14 by Rod Snow.

Starting line-ups

France: Scott Spedding, Remy Grosso, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin, Frederic Michalak, Sebastien Tillous-Borde; Damien Chouly, Bernard Le Roux, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Yoann Maestri, Pascal Pape, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Eddy Ben Arous.

Canada: Matt Evans, Phil Mackenzie, Ciaran Hearn, Nick Blevins, DTH Van Der Merwe, Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mack; Tyler Ardron (captain), Richard Thorpe, Kyle Gilmour, Jamie Cudmore, Brett Beukeboom, Doug Wooldridge, Aaron Carpenter, Hubert Buydens. 

Brassed off

Phil Shepka

BBC Sport

It's an absolutely glorious autumn evening in Milton Keynes; it feels closer to 1 August than 1 October.

You can genuinely feel the excitement from all those travelling to Buckinghamshire whether French, Canadian, French-Canadian or even a Brit out for a jolly to a game many may perceive to be after the Lord Mayor's show of Wales v Fiji.

To keep spirits high, a suited and booted military band have been playing their sweet brass tunes for those waiting to get through the queues (I didn't recognise a single one).

French revolution

Getty

Which is an injustice.

Because France frequently turn up in a state of disarray and then shock the world. In a good way.

They have reached three finals - as many as any other nation - and famously upset the All Blacks in 1999 and 2007, albeit not in the final.

They are two out of two so far in Pool D, albeit without a bonus point against Italy. Tonight they take on Canada. 

Good at romance, poor at warfare, decidedly indifferent to foreign tourists.

The French attract their fair share of stereotypes.

So does their rugby.

But "World Cup over-achievement" has yet to be added to their reputation for maverick brilliance mixed with punchy indiscipline.

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