Woki: ‘Unacceptable’ France ‘lucky to win’

France Rugby World Cup hooker Cameron Woki has slammed his ‘ill-disciplined’ side following an unconvincing 27-12 victory against Uruguay; Les Bleus conceded 15 penalties and avoided a red card after another controversial high tackle incident

Last Updated: 15/09/23 12:17pm

France lock Cameron Woki labelled his team’s showing as “unacceptable” after Les Bleus were penalised 15 times in their 27-12 victory against Uruguay at the World Cup on Thursday.

Coach Fabien Galthie had made 12 changes to the team who beat New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match and the reserves failed to rise to the occasion, although the coach was satisfied with the win.

“Fifteen penalties is huge. It’s unacceptable at international level, we’re lucky to win after being penalised so many times,” said Woki, who started against the All Blacks in a match France finished with only four penalties against them, prevailing 27-13.

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France eventually saw off Uruguay to bank a 27-12 World Cup Pool A victory in Lille, as Romain Taofifenua controversially avoided a red card. (Picture credit: RWCL)

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On another night, France could have also been playing most of the match a man down after a high challenge from lock Romain Taofifenua on Santiago Arata was deemed only to be a yellow card after a review in the bunker by the TMO, Welshman Ben Whitehouse.

“We had worked hard [on discipline], we wanted to do something good and we just showed we were an ill-disciplined team”, said Woki.

“It’s very frustrating.

“We struggled in the scrums, we knew we were better but then we were not patient – we have to be patient.”

Dawson: This is the opportunity to nip high tackles in the bud

England 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson shared his frustration with the “inconsistency” at the World Cup when it comes to cracking down on high tackles and called on officials to “nip in the bud” the discrepancies in decision-making.

“There lies the main issue – the inconsistency”, said Dawson, reacting tocTaofifenua’s tackle.

“It’s what the players require, it’s what the coaches, the fans, the game needs.

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Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson calls for more consistency from officials on dangerous tackle decisions after a number of incidents at the Rugby World Cup

“In England vs Argentina, you had a letter-of-the-law red card for Tom Curry – I feel that he was a little bit unfortunate because of the scenario – it wouldn’t have been that long ago that it would have been a rugby incident. But, quite rightly, head on head is a red card.

“But then there have been two or three incidents like last night where you do think there’s an opportunity to nip this in the bud around high tackles, head on head, shoulder on head, any kind of head contact.

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