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EOYT: France v Australia, 10/11/2012

TRF_Ezequiel

TRF_Ezequiel

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Stade de France, St. Denis (10-11-2012, 19:00 GMT)
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Relly looking forward to this. France side announced in a few minutes, the Aussie side:

Australia: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Radike Samo, 21 Liam Gill, 22 Brett Sheehan, 23 Berrick Barnes.
 
French starting XV announced:
1. Forestier, 2. Szarzewski, 3. Mas, 4. Papé, 5. Maestri, 6. Nyanga, 7. Ouedraogo, 8. Picamoles, 9. Machenaud, 10. Michalak, 11. Clerc, 12. Mermoz, 13. Fritz, 14. Fofana, 15. Dulin.
Bench: 16. Kayser, 17. Domingo, 18. Debaty, 19. Suta, 20. Chouly, 21. Parra, 22. Trinh-Duc, 23. Huget.

Given the 23 that had been announced, pretty much any starting XV would have been satisfactory. A few signals were given yesterday in practice that let us see some ot these "susprises" coming.
- The Clermont front row trained together, with the remaining three working together. This makes sense I suppose, so PSA chose between those two. I suppose Domingo will come on rather early, and Debaty quite late in the game.
- Back row is not a surprise by now, it was the one used yesterday in practice.
- Two halfback pairings had worked separately: Mache-Miche on one side, and Parra-TD on the other. I thought that meant Parra-TD would start, as I didnt' think PSA would leave Parra out. Well, he did. I suppose Michalak will take the kicks.
- Fofana did some practice on the wing. Mermoz looked like a sure starter by yesterday, and you could see PSA wanted Fofana to play. I suppose he chose Fritz for his defence as well.
 
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I'm terribly eager for this one as well...by no means will this test really set the tone, because France could playa bad game but then come back and crush Argentina...or vice versa. If we get Australia, it should be a good boost for our confidence, that we know we have a side ready to beat the top3 SH teams, but then just lose the test against Argentina...
We've never (well at least since pro rugby) had a side that was plain average. So we can always expect big things to happen, but also (however good a given side) we should always keep an open mind for a stupid match...it's all about rhythm. We've got to find rhythm (obviously) at some point - not necessarily starting the game well, could come in the second half...

But quite honestly, this looks like a nice side - forward and back. We've got speed, kicking, play making, and pure strength up front. A lot of experience, but also a lot of eager youth...
 
Having seen Michalak play on a regular basis the last 12 months I can say he is a good enough goal kicker for Test match level. He also has the ability to add points with drop-goals, something not every fly-half is capable of doing under pressure.
 
psychic duck said:
Good selections:
- Nyanga getting a chance to play again for France.

Bad selections:
- Forestier starting ahead of Domingo. Domingo is one the best looseheads in Europe, Forestier isn't even the best loosehead at his club.
- Maxime Mermoz, the most overrated French player I have seen. Rarely contributes anything yet people rave about how good he is all of the time. Fofana, Fickou, Fritz, Jauzion > Mermoz
- Two looseheads on the bench? Strange decision, especially since loosehead and tighthead have become so much more specialist positions this last decade. France better hope Mas stays fit.

Questionable selections:
- Is Michalak a good enough goal kicker? If not, then Parra should have started.
- Fritz has done well for Toulouse especially this last year. But the jury is out on whether he is effective at international level.
Click to expand...
Now that I've had some time to think it over, I have soe concerns too, but not the same as yours.

First, I'm not against Domingo on the bench. It will help keep a front row of similar level along the match, while keeping the three Clermont players together. Nowadays, I don't think that the starter is better than the replacement, especially concerning front rowers. I also think Domingo will come on before half time. Debaty has been playing TH off the bench for Clermont a couple of times. Most importantly, whenever he did so, it was alongside Domingo and Kayser.
I think the strategy regarding the front row is to start the strongest scrummaging one, in order to tire the Aussies (with a pretty heavy second row as well), and then yield way to the more mobile ASM players. My concern is that this strategy seems to go the opposite way than the rest of the coaching strategy.

The starting backrow is quite light, so that won't help the strategy above. PSA said he wanted two flankers who could cover in defense up to the wings, because two years ago it was there that Australia did most damage. This, however, happenned in the last 15 minutes of that game, so I don't think that is a good parameter. Plus, this gameplan can be countered by the 6-2 split in the Australian bench...
Most importantly, the halfbak pairing that's starting will open the game up, thus nullifying PSA's own apparent gameplan...

I'm part of the ones that rate Mermoz. He doesn't break the line often, but I'm sure that if the "linebreak assists" stat was available somewhere, he'd be close to leading the top 14. He's a player that makes the ones around him play better. I personnally think tat he's the reason why Martin has been looking that good this year, and has helped Bastareadu look like less of a brainless fatball (Giteau has certainly helped in this).
Fritz will be definitely up to it. He's been playing 12 for Toulouse (though wearing 13) and has been outstanding. His passing game is much improved, while keeping his running clean and his defense flawless. He has also added a kicking game in the last couple of seasons. He kind of went through a Ma'a Nonu sort of process.
And I do worry about Michalak's kicking. I doubt it's up to Parra's.

TRF_Ezequiel said:
Having seen Michalak play on a regular basis the last 12 months I can say he is a good enough goal kicker for Test match level. He also has the ability to add points with drop-goals, something not every fly-half is capable of doing under pressure.
Click to expand...

Do you think that, out of what he showed for the Sharks, he would have been deemed as good enough for the Boks had he been South African ?
 
I have to say I'm surprised that Aus are so far behind France as favorites when looking at the odds. I hope for a French victory though as that would probably see SA climb back to 2nd if we can take down Ireland (who are as screwed with injuries as we and Aus are).

Glad for Michelak. Earlier in the year he was on fire for the Sharks. With all the hype surrounding the young man I am almost surprised to see Fickou left out of the matchday 22.
 
I'm not sure Forestier is that good a scrummager, and I'm sure he's not better than Domingo. What I'm pretty sure of, is that Forestier-Szarzewski-Mas is stronger than Domingo-Kayser-Debaty. You could argue against Forestier's inclusion in the 23 (I would), but given he's in the 23, I'm not against his starting (because that doesn't mean he's better than the bench player, keeping the level more constant, etc.)

I agree about Giteau, btw. Mermoz has a history of people around him looking good though: he made everyone believe David Marty was an international class centre...
 
ZeFrenchy said:
I'm not sure Forestier is that good a scrummager, and I'm sure he's not better than Domingo. What I'm pretty sure of, is that Forestier-Szarzewski-Mas is stronger than Domingo-Kayser-Debaty. You could argue against Forestier's inclusion in the 23 (I would), but given he's in the 23, I'm not against his starting (because that doesn't mean he's better than the bench player, keeping the level more constant, etc.)

I agree about Giteau, btw. Mermoz has a history of people around him looking good though: he made everyone believe David Marty was an international class centre...
Click to expand...

+1
Excited about the squad, and our chances threw down 1000 vcash on the team with the roosters on the jerseys!
 
It's a tough game to call - France are so inconsistent and Australia always seem to do pretty well there, I think last time they play in Paris they put 60 points on them. It's not a strong Wallabies team, but it really depends which French team turn up on the day. I predict an Ozzie win.
 
irelandfan123 said:
Any chance seeing this in UK? If so anyone know what channel?
Click to expand...
ESPN as is the Italian game.......I will voice my doubts about Michalak at 10 and leave it at

Fritz will need to control his temper as the Aussies will be aware of his frailty and collecting of yellow cards. I also feel, that being controlled, that he is worth a starting place as his tacking is ferocious ad his all round game has been good this year. I will interested to see Mermoz as I am not sure about him but have not seen him often enough to judge.....

As regards Domingo....what does it matter? The Aussie's cannot scrummage!!

France by 15 if Michalak sparkles............................
 
yep...Michalak can be pivotal. He can change the dynamics of a match on many levels (boot, play making, quick thinking - fast execution...).
We should have the scrum advantage as well this time around...
 

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