After improved anthems, France avoided a first-half red card and a genuine scare to overcome a vibrant Uruguay in Lille.
Uruguay were one point down in the third quarter and had oodles of confidence but Felipe Etcheverry’s clearance kick into his own player allowed Peato Mauvaka to score, after which France pulled clear.
This was the first capped Test between the sides and even with Anthony Jelonch captaining a XV featuring 12 changes from the win over New Zealand, the hosts were expected to win convincingly. It began with the first display of the “new” anthems, preserving the voices of the children’s choir but now actually audible, accompanied heartily by the crowd.
France looked like they might have Romain Taofifenua sent off in the 27th
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