France launched their World Cup campaign in style with a 34-12 win over competition newcomers Greece at Eco-Power Stadium.
After failing to register a win at the last World Cup, a France side boasting more Super League experience than ever before, announced themselves as certified contenders on the world stage.
In their first World Cup match, Greece were valiant in their defeat, with a runaway try in the 80th minute bringing the proud blue and white supporters to their feet in Doncaster on Tuesday.
The World Cup debutants struggled to get out of their own half in the opening stages and an attempted 40-20 kick by Lachlan Ilias came up short, giving France prop Jordan Dezaria the platform to explode out of the line from close range and open the scoring in the eighth minute.
Chasing the early lead, mistakes started to creep into Greece’s game and a dangerous tackle on the line handed France playmaker Arthur Mourgue the opportunity to extend the lead 8-0 with a penalty goal.
Come the 29th minute and France extended their lead when Mourgue produced a deft grubber for Toulouse half Tony Gigot to follow through and score.
Ill discipline again proved costly for Greece when a Mitchell Zampetides late shot gifted France position and Benjamin Jullien capitalised with his fourth try in French colours.
France went further ahead early in the second half when Mourgue crossed the line and converted his own try to bring the score 26-0 with 32 minutes to play.
But it was the 55th minute that marked a moment of history for international rugby league.
Greece halfback Jordan Meads produced a perfectly weighted grubber to the corner to find winger Siteni Taukami to score his country’s first World Cup points.
France was quick to end Greece’s celebrations and once again showed their class, moving the ball quickly through hands when Julien crossed the stripe for his side’s fifth try of the night.
Greece continued to fight to the end and Nick Mougious grabbed a 79th minute runaway try to reduce the deficit 34-12 and bring the Greece fans to their feet in Doncaster.
Source: NRL.com