2014 Six Nations: France vs Italy (Round 2)

[Maverick1987]

You won 2 games last year so wind your necks in

 

[Holiver]

its not just their butt you see. Its their big head starting to deflate as well

Clearly, sucks to see such hatred towards a team just because it beat you last week and happens to be France.

 

[SelimNiai]

Back on topic please

 

[jaunard06]

Shameful first half, 10 good minutes in 2nd half and then we stopped playing.


- no more decent kicker. Okay Parra is out...and the Top 14 with its legions of foreign players doesn't help.
- Doussain still there after his terrible performance of the first match, and he started the same way. As a SH he seems to know how to do one thing only: pass the ball on the open side.
- Domingo obviously had a problem, the scrum was 7 vs 8 and this was obvious in the first half; fortunately issue seemed to be fixed in 2nd,
- We have no plan. Attack is sterile, we don't use depth enough, don't clean up rucks correctly, that's always always always the same story, and this is once again boring Top 14's fault that encourages that style of play favorizing defence.

Very few positives:
- Plisson seems to have a bit of flair, that's still much more than what we've seen last year,
- Huget surprisingly seems in very good form, he's been crap for years as well with Toulouse as with France but this year seems to be his year,
- Picamoles...finally someone who can sustain correct performances match after match.

 

[Big Ewis]

guys, it's trolling. Stop feeding it, for God's sake.


Should be noted Dulin is a gem at fullback. I haven't seen one match internationally where I didn't feel like congratulating him. That huge break, among many plays, awesome. He said himself he doesn't get butterflies in his stomach before matches or stress in big games, a very natural talent and person who just gets the job done, nothing more nothing less.
Picamoles huge as usual, and Basta too but both "discretely".
France still haven't found the chemistry I was hoping they'd have at this point. Thank GOD we have such talented players throughout the 23 who each bring a special individual touch, because if we had to count on team play we really wouldn't be 5th world wide atm.

What now though, do we keep Bonneval at the wing like that and keep Médard out for Cardiff ? Very risky for such a pivotal, away battle.

Has anybody got comments on our Springcoq, Le Roux ?
He looked good at times at the breakdown, some times looked at the limit of the law, some times just detrimental...and he's missed quite a few tackles. How we miss our first choice flankers...Dusau and Lauret would've been just right for this one against Italy.

EDIT:
the highlights:



Man that Fofana try was awesome. Not just individually, but a good team movement. He's got another one of those now, similar to the one in Twickers. A Fofa-try.

 

[jaunard06]

Le Roux ?

He's illustrating the lack of depth France have when it comes to find...not excellent players, but decent ones.
With Le Roux we're far from the quality we had with guys likeTony Marsh or Pieter De Villiers...

 

[FrenchFan]

guys, it's trolling. Stop feeding it, for God's sake.


Should be noted Dulin is a gem at fullback. I haven't seen one match internationally where I didn't feel like congratulating him. That huge break, among many plays, awesome. He said himself he doesn't get butterflies in his stomach before matches or stress in big games, a very natural talent and person who just gets the job done, nothing more nothing less.
Picamoles huge as usual, and Basta too but both "discretely".
France still haven't found the chemistry I was hoping they'd have at this point. Thank GOD we have such talented players throughout the 23 who each bring a special individual touch, because if we had to count on team play we really wouldn't be 5th world wide atm.

What now though, do we keep Bonneval at the wing like that and keep Médard out for Cardiff ? Very risky for such a pivotal, away battle.

Has anybody got comments on our Springcoq, Le Roux ?
He looked good at times at the breakdown, some times looked at the limit of the law, some times just detrimental...and he's missed quite a few tackles. How we miss our first choice flankers...Dusau and Lauret would've been just right for this one against Italy.

EDIT:
the highlights:



Man that Fofana try was awesome. Not just individually, but a good team movement. He's got another one of those now, similar to the one in Twickers. A Fofa-try.

Le Roux? he was good. Took up where he left after Eng. Did the job. Stop moaning, you have your beefie Safie happy? )

yep Fofana made a mockery of the Ritals on that try. Easy for him. Dulin had another great game.

 

[Big Ewis]

The truth is in ultra-modern Rugby, a third rower simply needs to be super bulky. Add some skill there too, but they must be massive. All the popular ones are, look at Sean O'Brian, Liam Messam, the whole Springbok third row, Picamoles, Billy Vunipola, Tom Wood, Dan Lydiate....list goes on and on.
Le Roux is weighty but not accomplished enough though, he's still young. I wouldn't say we have a lack of depth at the flank, but they're all injured right now, and we have fine ones. But we may be a bit obsolete in our style of specimens: Ouedraogo, Dusautoir, Nyanga, Diarra, Lauret...those guys are all fantastic flankers but have trouble when they're up against more massive third rows and suffer consistently at the breakdown. In modern Rugby, we'll need power in the rucks, and more power, and more and more...
the only guy who sort of fits that is Burban, and he's injured again for the 100th time in his unfortunate career. An enforcer, huge hits, steady in the rucks.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Sean O'Brien is 108 kg, lighter than both Picamoles and Le Roux (and easily the best player on that list). Still though, keep trying to push this weight = success thing. It's going super well.

 

[Draggs]

France have an issue at scrum half when Parra isn't fit.
JM Doussain isn't anything special, and I don't rate Machenaud highly.
Kockott would be the answer once available, but still need more options. (Hey, at least you have the potential for two class SHs!)

Huget is a good wing, not outstanding, but gets the job done and makes ground. Dulin a class fullback, makes a change from 50/50 Poitrenaud and Médard.
Still not a fan of Bastareaud, limits the outside backs.

 

[Aristodemus]

Remind me again, who won world player of the year in 2013?

Edit: Also, yesterday was lessons in tact, today it is calling others a troll

 

[FrenchFan]

The truth is in ultra-modern Rugby, a third rower simply needs to be super bulky. Add some skill there too, but they must be massive. All the popular ones are, look at Sean O'Brian, Liam Messam, the whole Springbok third row, Picamoles, Billy Vunipola, Tom Wood, Dan Lydiate....list goes on and on.
Le Roux is weighty but not accomplished enough though, he's still young. I wouldn't say we have a lack of depth at the flank, but they're all injured right now, and we have fine ones. But we may be a bit obsolete in our style of specimens: Ouedraogo, Dusautoir, Nyanga, Diarra, Lauret...those guys are all fantastic flankers but have trouble when they're up against more massive third rows and suffer consistently at the breakdown. In modern Rugby, we'll need power in the rucks, and more power, and more and more...
the only guy who sort of fits that is Burban, and he's injured again for the 100th time in his unfortunate career. An enforcer, huge hits, steady in the rucks.

Le Roux is heavier than some of these guys. He is having a superb run so far considering he is still young. He's stepped into the big boots of Dusautoir and has not been found wanting so far. He had a big game agst Eng. never took a back step, big tackler big heart. I like him. We have plenty of depth in the backrow when Dusautoir is back. No shortage here, except maybe in the ill-informed views of foreign media, but that's ok, they don't watch the Top14...

 

[big ginger 8]

Sean O'Brien is 108 kg, lighter than both Picamoles and Le Roux (and easily the best player on that list). Still though, keep trying to push this weight = success thing. It's going super well.

Ewis also picked 97kg Hooper in his World XV, doesn't really help his argument.

 

[FrenchFan]

Remind me again, who won world player of the year in 2013?

Edit: Also, yesterday was lessons in tact, today it is calling others a troll

Plastic Bertrand (when fit)

 

[FrenchFan]

France have an issue at scrum half when Parra isn't fit.
JM Doussain isn't anything special, and I don't rate Machenaud highly.
Kockott would be the answer once available, but still need more options. (Hey, at least you have the potential for two class SHs!)

Huget is a good wing, not outstanding, but gets the job done and makes ground. Dulin a class fullback, makes a change from 50/50 Poitrenaud and Médard.
Still not a fan of Bastareaud, limits the outside backs.

Nope. This is one of the positions we are well covered. and the 3 of them kick superbly. Doussain was ok today, did the job. Its only his 2nd game with Plisson. He needs time. He does the job for Toulouse he can do it for Fra but its up to PSA to manage him well. Plenty of options for PSA here but he has to work on his players and the 9-10 combination.
Yeah i'd like to see Kockot, i like him. Excellent with Castres. And great opportunity for him to repay the country that turned the nobody he was in SA into the player he is now.
Huget is also excellent at fullback and Dulin is a class act. Medard may struggle to get his place back. Bonneval is a big prospect. Deserves a recall agst Wales.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tom Wood isn't bulky, he's a beanpole :huh:
Stats may have him at 113kg but he's lanky as anything.

 

[FrenchFan]

Tom Wood isn't bulky, he's a beanpole :huh:
Stats may have him at 113kg but he's lanky as anything.

sorry who?

 

[Big Ewis]

oh and I don't know if anybody eluded to this, but that's exactly the point: what a fkn momentum annihilator the end of this match for FTD's entrance and grande return to the XV de France !
The guy finally gets there to play and Italy goes ape**** and we respond and BAM...13 on 14 Rugby, nothing much happening...


Interestingly, it should be noted France has looked like NZ statistically in 2014 so far in that the opponent (England and Italy) have had much more possession and territory but France has scored on counter-attacking, and on a very limited number of opportunities. I'm in no way saying France compares to NZ right now, I'm just saying in the nature of their game and the complexion of matches so far it's been very similar to what NZ have been through 2013. Giving away lots of possession but defending well, and then making the best out of limited counter-balls with good efficiency on the break at converting plays into 7 points.


The backplay isn't nearly what it used to be in France, we used to have beautiful combinations and schemes and I'm talking not so long ago, 2005-06-07 as far as I know. But I liked some of our movements today, and I think if we are to be a counter-attack team so be it, if the 7pointers come. And we've had two true team tries so far in 2014, a rarity in 2013. One in each match. Encouraging for the rest of the way, I think just based on the quality backs alone we can hope for more tries in the remaining 3 tests.

Cardiff is going to be one heck of a test...they're going to be mad as hell they lost so badly in Dublin and will be at home, waiting for us eagerly...surely we'll be very good in stretches then fall asleep again, then very good, then asleep....hopefully, just enough 'very good' to survive 80'.

 

[FrenchFan]

oh and I don't know if anybody eluded to this, but that's exactly the point: what a fkn momentum annihilator the end of this match for FTD's entrance and grande return to the XV de France !
The guy finally gets there to play and Italy goes ape**** and we respond and BAM...13 on 14 Rugby, nothing much happening...


Interestingly, it should be noted France has looked like NZ statistically in 2014 so far in that the opponent (England and Italy) have had much more possession and territory but France has scored on counter-attacking, and on a very limited number of opportunities. I'm in no way saying France compares to NZ right now, I'm just saying in the nature of their game and the complexion of matches so far it's been very similar to what NZ have been through 2013. Giving away lots of possession but defending well, and then making the best out of limited counter-balls with good efficiency on the break at converting plays into 7 points.


The backplay isn't nearly what it used to be in France, we used to have beautiful combinations and schemes and I'm talking not so long ago, 2005-06-07 as far as I know. But I liked some of our movements today, and I think if we are to be a counter-attack team so be it, if the 7pointers come. And we've had two true team tries so far in 2014, a rarity in 2013. One in each match. Encouraging for the rest of the way, I think just based on the quality backs alone we can hope for more tries in the remaining 3 tests.

Cardiff is going to be one heck of a test...they're going to be mad as hell they lost so badly in Dublin and will be at home, waiting for us eagerly...surely we'll be very good in stretches then fall asleep again, then very good, then asleep....hopefully, just enough 'very good' to survive 80'.

I agree. We blitzed Italy. 3 tries in 10 min. Game over. The Fofana-Huget-Bonneval try was a great collective move. Too many whingers out there among fans. Italy have no backline, no kicker. They have a good scrum. 10 points flatter them. Cardiff will be another test. Close the roof, turn on the heat and ....

 

[Big Ewis]

I'd have agreed if they got, say, 6 or 9 total. But the 10 points are theft. They got us down to 13 (though the Vahaamahina yellow was deliberate) and forced the try with nothing to lose...10 points is in deed very flattering, this thing was a 30-3, 30-9 at most with some made kicks. And they got lucky we were 13 for the last 10 minutes, I could feel the fourth try coming but then that crappy end happened.

Not happy with the way Italy dealt...I think they were disillusioned from the fact they got so far behind so fast - I mean we went from 9-3 to 30-3 in 10 minutes - and probably psyched themselves before the game believing they could beat us in Paris and had some kind of edge over France, and then reality struck them hard and they were vexed and with nothing to lose...

Anyways, they've got their first home game of the tournament in two (long) weeks against Scotland. Given the current flavors of the tournament, I'd say they've got this one.
They've got a young back-line, with some promising elements. Definitely more potential than we'd seen before.
De Marchi at LH was impressive, he even made that break there, sidestepped too promising !! They didn't look fantastic, but didn't look terrible, and they've got some really solid things to work with.