France's Heavy Defeat to Samoa at Rugby League World Cup Attributed to NRL Gap

In a significant match at the Men's Rugby League World Cup, France suffered a heavy defeat against Samoa, losing 78-4. The game took place in Parramatta, where Samoa showcased their dominance with 14 tries, including four from Sua Fa'alogo, who stepped in for the injured Deine Mariner.

France's only try was scored by Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet in the first half. Coach Laurent Frayssinous noted that the gap between the NRL and Super League contributed to the loss, pointing out that most of the Samoa squad plays in the NRL, while France's team consists mainly of Super League players.

Frayssinous acknowledged the need for improvement in the Super League to match the skill level seen in the NRL, emphasizing the importance of investment from the NRL in European rugby. Meanwhile, Samoa's coach Ben Gardiner praised Fa'alogo's performance, highlighting the team's depth.