France 26 Classic Barbarians 3

The reign of two-time defending champions the Classic Barbarians came to crashing - even humiliating - end last night as the British team were booted out of the World Rugby Classic by men from the other side of the English Channel.

France will long remember their emphatic return to these shores as they strode to a famous 26-3 semi-final victory on the crest of a hat-trick of tries from the dynamic Laurent Le Flamand and an all-round superior performance.

It was all “Vive la France” at the National Sports Centre as the usually tenacious Barbarians lacked the bite associated with their name and game, failing to score a single try and managing just one penalty.

Certainly not pretty in pink on this occasion, they succumbed to a bad case of The Blues!

Bidding for a ninth finals appearance, the Barbarians got a bitter taste of what they would be up against as early as the fourth minute when Frenchman Eric Nicol, with some fantastic anticipation, intercepted a pass inside his team's penalty area and made a tremendous break.

Having done the hard work for the greater part of the play, he left it to wing Le Flamand to go over for the first try while Frank Corilhons sealed the conversion, making it 7-0.

In the 15th minute, the Barbarians got on the board with a penalty by Graham Shiel but the centre's effort - which reduced the scoreline to 7-3 - was to be their sole success as the speed, skill and agility of their rivals proved too much to handle.

As if stung by the Barbarians getting any points at all, the French replied swiftly - in fact, within seconds. Again it was the exciting Le Flamand, with an exceptional solo move, who stole the limelight.

Seizing advantage of a bad bounce which wrong-footed a Barbarian, the 35-year-old flicked the ball forward with his right boot, skipped past his hopelessly-stranded opponent and motored on to his second try, having swooped up the ball in one smooth grab.

Fans were still on their feet applauding him when France completed their second conversion to jump to a 14-3 lead.

Three minutes from the half, Le Flamand assured himself of some personal glory with his third try but shared the heroics for this successful attack with Corilhons. The scrumhalf initiated the break from near the half-way line before seeking out Le Flamand for the finishing touch.

That, plus the conversion, put the score at 21-3 at the break and France increased their margin of dominance with a rollover seven minutes from the end. This time, the try was compliments of Brice Lapiatte but the conversion attempt, from a tight angle, failed.

“We are very pleased. It was very important since we have not been here for four years that we prove our rugby and that we beat the Barbarians. It's good for us,” declared jubilant French captain Olivier Roumat as his team celebrated the outcome.

Saying that they realised the Barbarians “play across the whole length of the field”, he explained his team's tactics were to penetrate with their forwards in “driving mauls” to pressure the British.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's final against the USA, he anticipated a good game with either side having a chance of prevailing.

Le Flamand, too, was ecstatic about the mauling they gave the Barbarians.

“I am very happy, especially because all the team played well. It was a good performance and we're in the final now,” said the man of the moment.

At the other end of the ground, a glum mood enveloped the losing camp and captain Colin Deans' sentiments would surely have been echoed by his team-mates.

“We are greatly disappointed. We had opportunities but we weakened under some pressure in the second half. To be 21-3 down at half-time is difficult to turn around but the guys never gave up.

“We fought right to the bitter end. We just didn't turn up the pressure when we had the opportunity up on their line.

“The French were superb - young, fit. Quite a few of them have just finished playing (internationally) and it told on us. They were stronger in the mauls, stronger in the tackles, stronger carrying the ball.”

Meanwhile, in the Plate semi-final, Argentina booked a place in the consolation showdown against New Zealand. The South Americans convincingly beat Canada 27-8.

“It's good because we moved the ball more and we played with heart,” said Argentine skipper Eliseo Branca, adding that they were confident and had a good chance of winning tomorrow.