TAC Day 2 - Revos Hold Off Plucky France

France was the USA Revolution’s last group stage opponent at the 2017 International Cup.  

Needing a percentage boost to sneak into the Grand Final at the MCG, Les Coqs put an immense amount of pressure on the Americans, and despite a 113-point victory, fought well enough to keep the Revos out of the top two.

A similar effort was given by the French men’s team to open the 2024 AFL TransAtlantic Cup, but seven years on, the Roosters went toe-to-toe with the Americans and gave them a might run for their money.

But, after leading at certain stages and going into the final term down by just ten points, Kyle Strenski’s team showed their prowess and kicked away to a 59-28 victory.

As if being awoken by one of their own crowing cousins, Les Coqs seized control of the match from the opening ball up, kicking the first two goals of the match.  Erik Anderson, Ryan McGettigan, and Tim Lindfelt did their best to prevent the score from getting too out of hand, though the Revos gave the French too many chances through frees and 50’s.  They would pull back towards the end of the term, through Derrick Shotwell and Mark McClure majors, and went into the break up 14-13.

The teams remained in near lockstep in the second term, with the Revos starting to work play forward more.  Shotwell, Max Depina, and Dan Livy found room to run in the middle of the ground, and McClure was able to get fed the ball from Josh Curtis and Zac McKinney.  “Stork” McClure would kick two more tallies and Livy would add one more, but the Revo’s lack of discipline led to Les Coqs answering back with two more.  At halftime, it was 34-27 USA.

Quarter three was a tight affair, with American muscle keeping the French off the footy for most of the twenty minute period.  Lindfelt, Sam Murphy, Zac Taylor and Rob Munn led the charge in keeping the ball free for Jevon Mason and Clyde Simpson to scoop up and distribute and create chances for McClure, Julian David, and McKinney, but they could only add three more behinds to the board.  Going into the final term, ten points separated the sides.

The French had the belief that they could score an upset.  But the Revos had the will and the wheels.  With Les Coqs pushing up to try and pick up a couple of goals, the forwards waited patiently at the back for the ball to be forwarded down the line.  Livy, who had been chiseling away at the back line all game, finally got a goal for his troubles.  Then Michael Linehan lit a bit of a fire to collect two more, and McClure banged home a fourth to lock up the gates at Col. Samuel Smith Oval in Toronto and a 31-point win.

All credit to Les Coqs de la France, who weren’t intimidated by Team USA and who have vastly improved since the last International Cup.  But the US got a great win to kick things off.

“That French team was ready to play, we had to match their intensity the entire time,” said McClure, whose four goals garnered him TASMANIAN Player of the Match Honors.

“We didn’t take them lightly whatsoever. They came out and punched us right in the mouth right from the get-go. The boys just kept on battling, that defense of ours just continuously got better and better as the game went along and they became a cohesive unit.”

McClure was named the International Cup in 2017 but missed out due to an ACL injury right before he was set to leave for Melbourne.  After two Parallel Cups, he was ready to get out there in a major international tournament.

“It feels great, it’s been a lot of hard work to get back out on the field. This is what it’s all about, really, to be able to represent my country with performances like this.”

The USA ends the first round on top of the Group A Ladder.  Great Britain awaits the Revos on Monday in Round 2, a 9:30am EDT/6:30am PDT start.  The Bulldogs were winners over Canada in their opening round.  Ireland meanwhile greeted Colombia to International play with a 110-1 rout.

USA Goals: McClure 4, Linehan 2, Shotwell, Livy

Group Standings After Round 1: