Frayssinous points to NRL-Super League gap after France’s 78-4 loss

France coach Laurent Frayssinous says the growing gap between the NRL and Super League was a major factor in his side’s 78-4 defeat by Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup in Parramatta.[1]

Samoa scored 14 tries in Friday’s Pool B-C match, including four by Melbourne Storm winger Sua Fa’alogo, who came on as a replacement. France’s only try was scored by Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet.

Asked why the loss was heavier than France’s 62-4 defeat by Samoa at the previous World Cup, Frayssinous pointed to the number of NRL players in the opposing side. All but one of Samoa’s squad play for NRL clubs, while France’s team is largely made up of Super League players.

“The NRL keeps growing and keeps getting better every year,” Frayssinous said. He added that Super League was improving too, but not as quickly, and said players needed to improve their skill and decision-making under pressure.

Frayssinous said he would welcome the NRL’s proposed investment in Super League, praising its contribution to the sport and saying he wanted it to do the same in Europe.

France conceded five tries in the opening 20 minutes. Frayssinous said his team were “all over the shop” during that spell. Winger Leo Darrelatour and stand-off Cesar Rouge suffered head injuries; Rouge returned after an assessment.

Fa’alogo had been due to come on later, Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said, but entered earlier after Deine Mariner went off with a hamstring strain. Gardiner praised the winger’s performance. [1]