I was just reading Planet Rugby's preview for this second test:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9347191,00.html
And one passage caught my attention:
"No doubt France will have a point to prove, and if there is one thing we've all learnt it's that you should never write the French off. But if things don't go the visitors' way early on, do these
Bleus have the passion to fight to the end? I fear another crushing defeat could kill off this team's self belief for good."
Ever since Saint-André's come into office to start 2012, I, (like the whole world !) have been absolutely expecting a strong rebound from the side, given they were in a bad place. We did get the 2012 EOYT which was excellent-to very good, but let's call this an anomaly. From 2013 til now, we haven't really had that typical French revival, and this team seems very different from all the other French teams because of that. My point here is they may very well take another pounding here, which never would've happened before. There's something different about this PSA team for a French team, I don't think they have it in them to come out and shock the way every single other French side has at a certain point.
France were just totally under control during that 4-game win streak in 2012, pounding the Wallabies on every possible front, putting 40 past Argentina, containing the strongest Samoan side to date. This wasn't French ardor, it was just very well calculated strategies.
The best we've done since then has been a good game in Twickenham (that should've been a lot closer than the final score), a couple of fine tests in NZ and again a very good test at home against the same AB, and then the latest games against England and Ireland in Paris. But all 6 of those latter matches were just strong efforts, but had nothing to do with Frenchness, that ability to entirely transcend themselves and transgress all odds going against them. We were just intense and let our individual talents express themselves.
In short, I do think the French "magic" doesn't exist in this side, but do believe it'll return for sure after PSA. But he's just so empty of any sort of life or competence as a coach, he has absolutely nothing fulfilling to offer this current era French team.
Now don't get me wrong, they might make this one a close test. But it won't be in the fashion we've known France to do it. They'll have fine-tuned their defense, and couldn't possibly play worse on attack, and the scrum will be better (an empty-tank Mas on the bench).
I expect a much closer test, but France like I said just may not have it in them to be French and take this with Gallic ardor and utter defiance from the Wallabies. Too much confusion, not enough chemistry or clear references - and it sounds cliché and reductive but yes it is all down to the coach.
As far as I can see I've only made 5 predictions about Force matches this year on the forum (the Bulls, Stormers, Cheetahs, Lions, and Crusaders matches). I got 3/5 predictions correct - not great, but it was a pass mark at very least (it would have been the same number you would have got with your 'back the Force every week' tactic). Not that it remotely relevant, but the 'pathetic' Highlanders are actually above the Force on the table at the moment too....
