[2015 RWC] Pool D: France vs. Romania (23/09/2015)

[Chistera]

Tales and Guitoune starting... but our 2nd pack is more impressive than yesterday's : front row on the same level, Flanquart better than Pape and LeRoux more adapted to being a second row -he's too static- in my opionion and I largely prefer an attacking and dynamic backrow of Ouedraogo and Nyanga than a combination of the invisible Chouly and the defensive Dusautoir. Our backline isn't that impressive and you could make a better one with all the players left at home (Machenaud, Lopez, Trinh-Duc, Mermoz, Danty... we've been over this).

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

France is sending a reserve squad against us. However, due to PSA's incompetence, I think many of these reserves are better than the starters.

I hope our boys will do their best and make up proud. A win is almost impossible but I hope we can keep it close. A good defense and strong scrum will be key if we want to be competitive, discipline is key. I'll be in the stadium as well.

Excellent news! I'm always rooting for Romania and Georgia, except when you guys play Canada of course

 

[dragos03]

Excellent news! I'm always rooting for Romania and Georgia, except when you guys play Canada of course

Nice I also root for Canada (except the direct match of course) and I hope you can upset Italy.
If we could just loan you a few forwards in return for some backs, our teams would have a much better chance.

 

[gaston le gaff]

France is sending a reserve squad against us. However, due to PSA's incompetence, I think many of these reserves are better than the starters.

I hope our boys will do their best and make up proud. A win is almost impossible but I hope we can keep it close. A good defense and strong scrum will be key if we want to be competitive, discipline is key. I'll be in the stadium as well.

This is the WC there are no reserve squads, each country has selected their best 31 players, do not think because they did not play in the first game against Italy they are the reserves, beware you could see a different face to France in this match and watc out for the centre partnership with fast ball going to 2 very good wingers if Tales does not kick the FU***** PIGSKIN

 

[Chistera]

This is the WC there are no reserve squads, each country has selected their best 31 players, do not think because they did not play in the first game against Italy they are the reserves, beware you could see a different face to France in this match and watc out for the centre partnership with fast ball going to 2 very good wingers if Tales does not kick the FU***** PIGSKIN

True, there are no reserve squads, all 31 players have been sweating for 3 months together and most players of this 'reserve' team were additionally sweating not to be cut from the extended squad and finally have a chance to prove that they deserve their spot, so they're all extremely motivated and I wouldn't expect any difference in level. Picamoles still is in the team and he easily was the best player on the field Saturday, that's certainly no reason for any Romanian fan to rejoice (ask Castrogiovanni...)!

 

[Irish boy]

Think Romania could surprise France because well there France up the Oaks.

 

[Toko_11]

This will be a tough game, but if I were a Romanian Coach I'd use it to prepare for the Italy game.. I'll be buying lots of popcorn for that fixture.. Make Trajan Proud Oaks!

 

[JJFlash]

I can see many of the players selected for this match making a case for inclusion against Ireland, particularly the backs. However, as gaston says, Tales mustn't kick too much. This is a match when the ball must pass swiftly through hands and I'm sure we'll see lots of tries.

 

[French TommyGun]

Yes, under-estimate this Romanian team at your own peril. They have an excellent forward pack with the scrum and driving maul being their two biggest weapons. Florin Vlaicu is also deadly accurate with the boot. They also have very good defence.

They don't have much quality in the backs other than Fercu but their plan will be to drag France into a trench battle. Their forwards will be up for the contest.

They have also recently beaten Tonga, a team that beat you guys last World Cup and they put a spanking on a "A" side Argentina and Namibia this past June, utterly wrecking both teams scrums.

[video=youtube_share;BD0Vs2XA_7Q]http://youtu.be/BD0Vs2XA_7Q[/video]

This is also the match Romanian fans are most looking forward to. They think they can catch France off guard and by the sounds of how overconfident you are, they may be right

Wow that Romanian scrum is bad ass!
I think They will cause us some problems and might even be ahead on the scoreboard at some point... Really think we'll win quite comfortably in the end tho.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Already Forfana was a first choice but did not play v Italy as he was not 100% so there are many Guitoune, Dulin, Fickou, also in the back row with Nyanga and Ouedraogo, so yes, and it is certainly a long way from a reserve team.My one big doubt isTales, but if he passes well it could be ok.

 

[Tarasque]

It's a trap !

If we are over confident, we will be defeated.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think PSA made the right team choice. 2nd choicers will be motivated to show their worth, so excess confidence will not be a problem, and also given the short turnaround.
I admit I don't know the romanian players (except the Castres prop), but I've seen the Stade Français third choicers give a whipping to the Bucaresti Wolves, so I'm not overly worried. If we get a win without any injuries I'd be happy.

 

[gaston le gaff]

A win has to happen and they have to go looking for the bonus point once the match is truly sewn up, easier in this comp as it's 4 tries end of story and not like in France +3 tries and the match can change at any time with a try by the opposition.

 

[JJFlash]

I think PSA made the right team choice. 2nd choicers will be motivated to show their worth, so excess confidence will not be a problem, and also given the short turnaround.
I admit I don't know the romanian players (except the Castres prop), but I've seen the Stade Français third choicers give a whipping to the Bucaresti Wolves, so I'm not overly worried. If we get a win without any injuries I'd be happy.

I don't buy into this 2nd choice talk at this stage of the competition. OK, so the side that plays Romania bears little resemblance to that against Italy and sure, they'll be motivated as will the Romanians, but even though earlier posts talk of the Romanian scrum, the French one just oozes aggression and look at the French forward replacements!! The first half could be fairly even between the forwards but come the second, the class of the French will come to the fore and a big bonus point victory will be in the bag!

 

[Chistera]

I think PSA made the right team choice. 2nd choicers will be motivated to show their worth, so excess confidence will not be a problem, and also given the short turnaround.
I admit I don't know the romanian players (except the Castres prop), but I've seen the Stade Français third choicers give a whipping to the Bucaresti Wolves, so I'm not overly worried. If we get a win without any injuries I'd be happy.

I'm not worried either, their best players are subs in the Top 14 or play in the Pro D2. They sure have a strong scrum, and that may scare some teams, but we have a solid scrum as well, so I don't have any worries on that matter as well. If I'm sure that our forwards will perform, I'll be giving a closer as to how our backs cope, they'll be facing even weaker oppostion (compared to the Romanian pack) and I hope to see some nice combinations. We'd need Fofana to resist his urge to gobble every ball, he'll Fickou outside him and we should look to involve our wingers as much as we can -as we tried to during the first 20 mins og the Italy game.

 

[MidlandsMan]

Will Tales or Parra kick pens here lads , need to know for fantasy rugby

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I'm not worried either, their best players are subs in the Top 14 or play in the Pro D2. They sure have a strong scrum, and that may scare some teams, but we have a solid scrum as well, so I don't have any worries on that matter as well. If I'm sure that our forwards will perform, I'll be giving a closer as to how our backs cope, they'll be facing even weaker oppostion (compared to the Romanian pack) and I hope to see some nice combinations. We'd need Fofana to resist his urge to gobble every ball, he'll Fickou outside him and we should look to involve our wingers as much as we can -as we tried to during the first 20 mins og the Italy game.

Yes, I am very much looking forward to the scrum battle between these two sides. If France runs the ball through their hands and put together some phases they will surely win. The danger will be in getting drawn into a forward slugfest with Romania, if France start taking penalties Romanian kicker Florin Vlaicu will keep the points ticking over. He is a very good kicker and has been the downfall of Canada our last two games against Romania.

I expect France to win but don't expect Romania to simply role over, they are a professional outfit with a good coach.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Will Tales or Parra kick pens here lads , need to know for fantasy rugby

Will be Parra and i should imagine he will get plenty of chances

 

[ZeFrenchy]

France is starting the weakest scrum you can make out of this squad. Atonio and Debaty are not known for their scrummaging, and the locks and flankers are a lot looser than Saturday's. I don't think this was a strategic choice, and it had to do just with as much rotation as possible, but France will have to target open play as an offensive tactic, which matches the backline's strength. As long as Tales and Fofana pass the ball once in a while, I think we're up to an enjoyable game.

 

[gaston le gaff]

weak scrum watch closely my friend.