2014 6 Nations: France vs Ireland (Round 5)

[gaston le gaff]

Well played Ireland and a fitting send off for BOD,they deserved their win and it was good to see them squeeze England out of the 1st place, once again the French disappointed, scrum and at 9 and 10, nowhere the level it should be, hopefully someone somewhere will have a word in the right places but knowing the FFR i very much doubt it. The other good thing is next weekend its TOP 14 YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Its weird, cause France, despite losing, actually looked like a well drilled organised team and gameplan against Ireland, in stark contrast to the rest of the championship. I dunno if the players stopped listening to their coaches n decided to play for themselves, or if they finally took on board the game plan Saint-Andre was trying to get them to play. I'd lean towards the first one tbh

that's what Szar had to say, repeatedly in the post-game reaction video, with others too: "we play bad but win other matches. This one we play it well and thought we deserved better than the result we got, but lose it...we'd have rather played bad but won it still, but hey..."

:cryy:


:cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy::cryy:
I just couldn't believe this. I was going "ohhhhhh !!!!!" 2 or 3 minutes after it happened...:cryy:
They were done for. Roasted.

 

[FrenchFan]

Its weird, cause France, despite losing, actually looked like a well drilled organised team and gameplan against Ireland, in stark contrast to the rest of the championship. I dunno if the players stopped listening to their coaches n decided to play for themselves, or if they finally took on board the game plan Saint-Andre was trying to get them to play. I'd lean towards the first one tbh

you have a point here.

PSA has started to lose the players.. the senior players in particular. Parra won't listen to him never mind
Lagisquet. They didn't play according to any game plan set by the staff. The players took charge of the game on Saturday. That was the difference.

his handling of the Cardiff non-event with Picamoles, Parra & Trihn Duc omissions, Vahaamina & Picamoles
picked out of position for no reason...etc etc this is all adding up and brewing agst him... he will lose the players. It is coming.

And good luck mon philippe for travelling with a competitive side down under this summer. After antagonising the clubs that bit more during the 6N, they won't be playing ball with you any longer...
but thats ok because now he is getting good at picking a B side for every game...

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Couldn't agree more. Takes the edge out of the attack, which is exactly why its used I know, but it makes for a boring game.

Yeah, like I don't have a problem with teams using it because it's legal, but at the same time we hear all this bluster about how the scrum is killing the game but there's no thought given to the other problems.

Almost the default type of tackle now is the one where the tackler keeps the oncoming player from going to ground for as long as possible. I can see the potential advantages of this, such as slowing ball down, but it sometimes results in the ball carrier making more ground. In short it's come to be used pretty indescriminately.
To be honest it just makes you appreciate the old-school no nonsense tacklers like Dan Lydiate who just fell the guy as quick as possible.

Back on topic, Ireland have been really excellent this tournament and deserve it, if only because they managed to pull through in Paris, something England couldn't do.
They also only lost by 3 at Twickenam, where Australia, Wales and New Zealand have all lost by more in recent times.

 

[Big Ewis]

And good luck mon philippe for travelling with a competitive side down under this summer. After antagonising the clubs that bit more during the 6N, they won't be playing ball with you any longer...
but thats ok because now he is getting good at picking a B side for every game...

hey PSA's experimentation and having to deal with a million injuries is over. For now at least.
If France play like they did yesterday, I mean they did contain a furious Irish side and had smt to show in terms of structured play, contested big time at the breakdown, even had an advantage in the rucks statistically - all they need to do is fine-tune the finishing a tad and they're all set. The finer details will come later.

Really good things can happen for us in 3 tests next summer 'Down under'.

 

[CAB_for_ever]

Well played Ireland and a fitting send off for BOD,they deserved their win and it was good to see them squeeze England out of the 1st place, once again the French disappointed, scrum and at 9 and 10, nowhere the level it should be, hopefully someone somewhere will have a word in the right places but knowing the FFR i very much doubt it. The other good thing is next weekend its TOP 14 YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At 9 and 10 ? are you joking ? it seems you have been blind, Machenaud did a very good match in every aspect of the game and the position and Talès has been more than correct. The fact you dislike these 2 players (and I dislike Machenaud myself, preferring Kockott, Parra and many others), shouldn't make you saying so inaccurate comments about them on THIS match.

 

[Big Ewis]

At 9 and 10 ? are you joking ? it seems you have been blind, Machenaud did a very good match in every aspect of the game and the position and Talès has been more than correct. The fact you dislike these 2 players (and I dislike Machenaud myself, preferring Kockott, Parra and many others), shouldn't make you saying so inaccurate comments about them on THIS match.

I second that. Talès was definitely more accurate than poor young Plisson (to whom we really didn't do a favor by including him this year...), except towards the end. And Machenaud was just flat-out very good.

About this game for France:
- it should be noted Lapandry is now an absolute prospect for France, even more, in the 7 shirt. He made all 11 tackles, no miss, played ball in hand too (beat 1 defender) and was worthy at the breakdown, no easy task against an Irish team that came for a ***le. He was very good against Scotland too.
- Chouly was surprisingly good: he was making meters with each impact, very good in the lineouts (5/5 won), strong tackler too (11/11) and even made 35meters (not his job).

We have tremendous depth in the third row after all, with guys who can really match test level Rugby; despite our lack of pure mass and power every other good team has there: Sean O'Brien, O'Mahony, the Boks, Welsh backrow, England backrow...

 

[FrenchFan]

hey PSA's experimentation and having to deal with a million injuries is over. For now at least.
If France play like they did yesterday, I mean they did contain a furious Irish side and had smt to show in terms of structured play, contested big time at the breakdown, even had an advantage in the rucks statistically - all they need to do is fine-tune the finishing a tad and they're all set. The finer details will come later.

Really good things can happen for us in 3 tests next summer 'Down under'.

PSA's will "experiment" as in "mess around" as long as he is in charge. PSA doesn't experiment as such. He is too conservative for that.
And dealing with injuries is Never over by definition (strange idea you have), injured players always have to be factored in. But PSA's problem has not been how to deal with a cascade of injuries. There's been a few but nothing out of the ordinary. His real problem is what he does with the group at his disposal...

the tour down under? it will be a circus. I do not believe PSA will be able to travel with the group of players he needs to prepare for the RWC.

 

[FrenchFan]

I second that. Talès was definitely more accurate than poor young Plisson (to whom we really didn't do a favor by including him this year...), except towards the end. And Machenaud was just flat-out very good.

About this game for France:
- it should be noted Lapandry is now an absolute prospect for France, even more, in the 7 shirt. He made all 11 tackles, no miss, played ball in hand too (beat 1 defender) and was worthy at the breakdown, no easy task against an Irish team that came for a ***le. He was very good against Scotland too.
- Chouly was surprisingly good: he was making meters with each impact, very good in the lineouts (5/5 won), strong tackler too (11/11) and even made 35meters (not his job).

We have tremendous depth in the third row after all, with guys who can really match test level Rugby; despite our lack of pure mass and power every other good team has there: Sean O'Brien, O'Mahony, the Boks, Welsh backrow, England backrow...

Plisson is a real prospect. He did do him a favour on the contrary. This is how new players grow, they need taste intl rugby. Plisson is having a fine season at SF in direct competition with Morne Steyn. Its one thing to pick a 21 fly half but then you need to COACH him into the position. I didn't see much evidence of that. The tinkering at scrum half and omission of Parra didn't help. The question mark here again lands back on the coaching staff, not on Plisson. Coached properly and with the right pairing at 9 Plisson has the potential to grow. Can he? yes, will he? i dont know, ask Philippe.
Other than that I have no issue with Tales who as a good Top 14 outhalf had a solid game on Saturday.

 

[FrenchFan]

I haven't read any of the previous posts (yet), so this is me on my little island and the things I'd like to say.

.Vincent Debaty, yes Debaty - come in and saw the scrum start to push forward again for France. I'd have been spontaneously paralyzed for about 5 seconds had you told me this 6 months ago.
- Lapandry and Vahaamahina good fits this tournament. Both great prospects for the future.
- Slimani currently BETTER than Mas at scrum time ??? At least close. Excellent news for us as he'll only get better there, and has way more potential in the loose.


.

funny i seem to remember saying Debatty should start more regularly.

http://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/32826-2014-6-Nations-France-vs-Ireland-(Round-5)/page3

 

[gaston le gaff]

At 9 and 10 ? are you joking ? it seems you have been blind, Machenaud did a very good match in every aspect of the game and the position and Talès has been more than correct. The fact you dislike these 2 players (and I dislike Machenaud myself, preferring Kockott, Parra and many others), shouldn't make you saying so inaccurate comments about them on THIS match.

Not at all blind, France lost because they did not play well enough and one reason was the attack it had no forward momentum from 10, Tales never once broke the gain line, Machenaud was to blame for his defence on one try i never said i disliked these players there are just better available than these two. Yes i agree they played better against Ireland but it was not good, what i do not understand is everyone is cock a hoop because we lost by a couple of points and not by 20, Kockott does not come into the factor as he can't play for France at the moment so why mention him and the many others like who!!!!! there is only Parra at the moment who deserves his place!!!!
Read Galthie's comments in todays Equipe or is he blind as well!!!!! you would not say that to some one like Galthie that i'm sure, if you want to make your own assumptions thats fare enough, but everybody has a point of view which should be respected even though you may not agree, so keep you extremely arsy comments to your self in future. if you have come onto this forum to abuse other people maybe its time to have a long look in the mirror sunshine.

 

[Big Ewis]

There's been a few but nothing out of the ordinary.

Starters out before the tournament began: Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Fritz, Guitoune, Parra

Out for good during the tournament: Burban (played 1/2 game), Fofana, Nyanga, Kayser

Absent during the tournament: Lauret, Le Roux, Szar, Slimani, Talès.

Yes, it was completely out of the ordinary. It was a circus. You seen the lineup we sent to Murrayfield ? :lol: funny stuff.

Plisson is a real prospect. He did do him a favour on the contrary. This is how new players grow, they need taste intl rugby. Plisson is having a fine season at SF in direct competition with Morne Steyn.

granted it's good he got some experience, but we agree that the staff didn't help much in giving him the right training and confidence to go into those 6N games. He started his int'l career against England for fk's sake. He was thrown in there and expected to defend like Talès at 10, give les Bleus an attacking pace from the get-go and kick like a 12 year pro.
Yes he's done really well in SF, and it has been repeated too many times that he's even keeping Steyn on the bench. But club level is one thing, and he was way too young to start for France in this, and thank God he didn't play this match right here against Ireland.

 

[FrenchFan]

Starters out before the tournament began: Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Fritz, Guitoune, Parra

Out for good during the tournament: Burban (played 1/2 game), Fofana, Nyanga, Kayser

Absent during the tournament: Lauret, Le Roux, Szar, Slimani, Talès.

Yes, it was completely out of the ordinary. It was a circus. You seen the lineup we sent to Murrayfield ? :lol: funny stuff.



granted it's good he got some experience, but we agree that the staff didn't help much in giving him the right training and confidence to go into those 6N games. He started his int'l career against England for fk's sake. He was thrown in there and expected to defend like Talès at 10, give les Bleus an attacking pace from the get-go and kick like a 12 year pro.
Yes he's done really well in SF, and it has been repeated too many times that he's even keeping Steyn on the bench. But club level is one thing, and he was way too young to start for France in this, and thank God he didn't play this match right here against Ireland.

this number of injuries is nothing out of the ordinary. Can't talk about "millions". Its quite in the norm to have that number of injured players, and they're not all first starters anyway.
The circus agst Sco was down to the poor team selection, not the injured players. He left out many promising first team starters that were available for selection. And the team selection agst Ireland was not much better. A France B side.

 

[Big Ewis]

considering the importance of the guys we started the tournament without, and then the significance of losing 2 guys after every match, yes it's bad, and it clearly means our players play way too much. We were an absolute cemetery compared to the other teams in the tournament.

 

[FrenchFan]

considering the importance of the guys we started the tournament without, and then the significance of losing 2 guys after every match, yes it's bad, and it clearly means our players play way too much. We were an absolute cemetery compared to the other teams in the tournament.

not at all. That doesn't excuse the poor team selection agst Sco & Irel. And picking players out of position.

 

[Big Ewis]

not at all. That doesn't excuse the poor team selection agst Sco & Irel. And picking players out of position.

I'm not saying that, I'm just answering you as you say we didn't have more injuries than usual. Yes we did, and it's greatly problematic and in fact a sample of things to come as our players continue to play 40 games a season. We'll be constantly undermanned if this goes on uninterrupted.

It should be noted that some guys really stepped up in the absence of our starters:
Bastareaud BIG TIME.
Lapandry was impressive.
Chouly.
Machenaud.
Szar.

 

[FrenchFan]

Starters out before the tournament began: Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Fritz, Guitoune, Parra

Out for good during the tournament: Burban (played 1/2 game), Fofana, Nyanga, Kayser

Absent during the tournament: Lauret, Le Roux, Szar, Slimani, Talès.

Yes, it was completely out of the ordinary. It was a circus. You seen the lineup we sent to Murrayfield ? :lol: funny stuff.



granted it's good he got some experience, but we agree that the staff didn't help much in giving him the right training and confidence to go into those 6N games. He started his int'l career against England for fk's sake. He was thrown in there and expected to defend like Talès at 10, give les Bleus an attacking pace from the get-go and kick like a 12 year pro.
Yes he's done really well in SF, and it has been repeated too many times that he's even keeping Steyn on the bench. But club level is one thing, and he was way too young to start for France in this, and thank God he didn't play this match right here against Ireland.

not really. Plisson is ready for it. Up to PSA to coach him and by picking a mature 9 like Parra. PSA doesn't have any alternative outside of Thales. He has burnt bridges with Trihn Duc....

 

[FrenchFan]

I'm not saying that, I'm just answering you as you say we didn't have more injuries than usual. Yes we did, and it's greatly problematic and in fact a sample of things to come as our players continue to play 40 games a season. We'll be constantly undermanned if this goes on uninterrupted.

It should be noted that some guys really stepped up in the absence of our starters:
Bastareaud BIG TIME.
Lapandry was impressive.
Chouly.
Machenaud.
Szar.

well you're contradicting yourself . This number of injuries is not a sign of "what's to come". Its HERE already
thats what im saying its not an extraordinary number of injuries because players are already playing too many games. This is not exactly new. So the number of injuries that you think is too much is in fact becoming the norm....wait till we get to June, if you think there's too many injuries at the start of the 6N you haven't seen anything yet. THats what im saying when a team of tourists that PSA doesn't necessarily need will end up travelling down under because of injuries, Top14 final, players being rested (Picamoles), players talked out of it by their club etc....

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Apparently numerous bags of money and having Ronan O'Gara as his own personal gimp isn't enough to satisfy the sick, twisted ****** that is Johnny Sexton. What has he done now? I hear you all ask, he has murdered the national, nay an international, hero that is Gordon D'Arcy's beard. Sexton has always been jealous of the beard, it had the composure, bottle, fame and a way with the ladies that Sexton has never posessed. The only way Sexton could satisfy his selfish desires was to murder the beard. I wish the **** murdered himself.



RIP Gordon D'Arcy's beard.

 

[lynam1104]

We were in the running for the the beard nations with just one beard, thats how ****ing good it was.