2014 Six Nations: France vs Italy (Round 2)

[Big Ewis]

pretty shhitty weekend Rugby wise so far, though result-wise both winners are stuffed.

Up to France to unleash dat backline, and ffs France, for Rugby, for the beauty of the sport, pleaaaaaaaaase, you've got fkn 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Hugo Bonneval, 10 Jules Plisson with Trinh-Duc and Fickou on the bench ffs pleaaase score us a couple of beauties will ya ? Or else just throw Lagisquet out and get one of those Aussies. Dead srs. I'm tired of this fkn shhit now, we've got a backline no other side has in Europe athletically and we struggle.

 

[Mumbles119]

Really hoping Bonneval shows the goods tomorrow. He is in my fantasy team. (With Dulin, Fofana, Picamoles)

Come on prove me right, Bonneval

 

[The Jones Boy]

pretty shhitty weekend Rugby wise so far, though result-wise both winners are stuffed.

The Irish are in good shape. Not sure what you mean. They look the goods for winning the ***le if they can get passed England.

…we got a backline no other side has in Europe athletically and we struggle.

How would we know?
A few months ago they looked average against The AB's and the Springboks, then they stuttered against an English team that deserved more than they got, this French side is full of potential but so are many other teams, it's realising it thats the key, and France stumbled to an ugly victory against England, they really need to puff their chests out today and strut.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Win first strut later .

 

[Big Ewis]

Really hoping Bonneval shows the goods tomorrow. He is in my fantasy team. (With Dulin, Fofana, Picamoles)

Come on prove me right, Bonneval

when you say "fantasy team", you mean like a simulated virtual league thingy right ?....no because, I've made some XV threads recently, and maybe you meant like...I dunno..

Win first strut later .

Right. Well, hopefully in the image of what our women (29-0) and our U20 (34-0) did to theirs !
Imagine if France lose this though ?! :rofl: all this talk about a bright new start, beating England in Paris in what seemed to be the beginning of a beautiful year...BAM, lost to Italy in Paris, first time ever.
it would be soooooooo French to do that !!...

 

[Mumbles119]

when you say "fantasy team", you mean like a simulated virtual league thingy right ?....no because, I've made some XV threads recently, and maybe you meant like...I dunno..

Haha. Yes the online ESPN fantasy team, although have enjoyed the alternative XVs you have started.

I dropped Mike Brown (a try and MOM) for Bonneval. Because I believe France can strut today.
With players such as Dulin and Plisson, who are not ultra talented and flaky like Michelak, but they are players with great talent and the ability to retain poise, focus and concentrate on a game plan.

I think players like this, could start to change the French stereotype of unpredictably turning up interested or not.

 

[gaston le gaff]

France will not lose today!!!!!!!!! in answer to Mumbles "the French sterotype of unpredictability"
The French are what they are, you will never change them into what is the Englishteam, heaven forbid, this was called French Flair now becauce of one bad last season it has become sterotype and unpredictability, never in a million years. The French are building and hopefully with style especially in the backs i think today will prove that the French, are not the finished produt but certainly on the right road to International high standards. The French love their ***le of unpredictability and on this they have had great results in the past, don't worry we are on the way back everybody is allowed a bad season, last last years was ours.

 

[Mumbles119]

Agreed Gaston. You put it better than I managed. I don't want France to become England. I want french rugby to have flair and the talented creativity be a joy to watch.
But I think players like Dulin and Plisson have more consistency to their game than other players if the past in their positions, and this can only be a good thing for France.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I hope Minto has a good game today, he has his work cut out trying to fill in for Zanni - but he played really well last year.

This game could go either way for the neutral I think.... fingers crossed for 5+ tries!

I also hope Nyanga can really tattoo his name to the French team sheet.

 

[big ginger 8]

Italian scrum starting to really dominate the French scrum. Castro on Domingo in particular.

 

[lynam1104]

Awful goal kicking so far

****ing hell another

 

[Feicarsinn]

This is a bit shιt innit?

 

[lynam1104]

Some exciting glimpses but pretty **** handling and break down inaccuracy has killed it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's a good job France is in this tournament to show us plebs how to scrum and how to attack.

...ahem.


Bastareaud is terrible. He was good when he first came onto the scene because he offered more than bulk: he ran great lines and had a good offloading game - now he's just fat. He charges into people expecting to just run through defences, not realising that defences are able to handle men of his size, these days.

 

[Jaguares]

C'mon Italy! F**king Tommy Allan! With Morne Steyn as kicker, Italy would win this match

 

[The American]

Not sure Mathieu Bastareaud is a solid international center right now. He had a solid smash-up at one point, but since then he's playing 15 meters back waiting for the swing out wide (which clearly wasn't coming, even when it should have). He should be taking it with pace at the line every time!

The Italian scrum is really impressive today though.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Get Fickou on plz.

 

[lynam1104]

Thats a real killer blow love Fofana

The interplay was great for that try

 

[SelimNiai]

Great try, easy make make a muddle of those chances

 

[Amobokoboko]

First half of Italy was quiet ok, but they really lack (as every year) a decent kicker.