[EOYT] France vs. New Zealand 09/11/13

[TRF_stormer2010]

It remains for France or England to halt NZ this year. It has to be done. SA has failed at two attempts and we apologize even if apologies mean nothing. Do it, France! Do it! You have nothing to lose so go out with a free spirit, trust in your brother and get the job done if only for to put a smile on the face of every child coming to the stadium to see their heroes take on the ***an and not at all so that you will rest easy when you face SA 2 weeks later knowing that you have already proven youself! Do it.

 

[Big Ewis]

Please listen to what Thomas Lombard says in this vid, it's not long (not 5min) and summarizes almost everything about French Rugby this very moment in time:

PLEASE: start at 41:20, I've already preselected the right region in the vid:

[video=youtube_share;jKNgEpZ8g84]http://youtu.be/jKNgEpZ8g84?t=41m20s[/video]

 

[big ginger 8]

It remains for France or England to halt NZ this year. It has to be done. SA has failed at two attempts and we apologize even if apologies mean nothing. Do it, France! Do it! You have nothing to lose so go out with a free spirit, trust in your brother and get the job done if only for to put a smile on the face of every child coming to the stadium to see their heroes take on the ***an and not at all so that you will rest easy when you face SA 2 weeks later knowing that you have already proven youself! Do it.

I would remind you that we play them as well but with our record I'm not even sure if you're just putting down those you see having a semi-decent chance and I can't blame you...too much.

 

[Big Ewis]

France must believe in its chances realistically, and carve an ideal in their minds with hammers. They must believe they have a calling and are "special". For God's sake, where has the confidence gone ? The passion must be there. The hunger. Do we play Rugby to just hang in there, or to cling on until the end and give it our all, play smart as a team ?! Hanging in there just isn't good enough for France.
Maybe this is 'just' (sorry ZeFrenchy !) an EOYT match, and I'd rather lose all 3 but get the GS in March, and then go through another horrible run but make another RWC final appearance again - but goddamn it the All-Blacks are great but they're not gods as our rookie prop Slimani says.

I really hope France goes into this thinking they're unstoppable, and if they concede tries, keep thinking that and get back in the game by any means necessary.
Our defense has to be metal-solid, and our attack absolutely needs to resurrect fast.
I know the AB's are undefeated, beat the Boks and Wallabies twice and beat us three times, but why MUST they win this ? I can't ever accept that idea. I really hope our troops are fired up, ffs, some pride, some desperation fellas, please.
At least give us smt that we can watch facing the TV the whole 80min, and not turn our heads. We deserve it.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I hope the French have some decent tactics this time. Watching them hoof the ball every time they had it during June was embarrassing, especially when you saw how good they could be when they ran it once or twice.

 

[Big Ewis]

I hope the French have some decent tactics this time. Watching them hoof the ball every time they had it during June was embarrassing, especially when you saw how good they could be when they ran it once or twice.

hoof ? Like, ruck ?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

hoof ? Like, ruck ?

Haha, kick!

 

[steblin]

All Blacks squad named:

The All Blacks team to play France at Stade de France on Sunday, kick-off 9am NZT (caps in brackets) is: Israel Dagg (35), Cory Jane (43), Ben Smith (23), Ma'a Nonu (85), Charles Piutau (8), Daniel Carter (98), Aaron Smith (23), Kieran Read (58), Richie McCaw (c) (121), Liam Messam (26), Sam Whitelock (48), Brodie Retallick (21), Owen Franks (51), Keven Mealamu (108), Tony Woodcock (105). Reserves: Dane Coles (12), Wyatt Crockett (21), Charlie Faumuina (15), Steven Luatua (9), Sam Cane (14), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (12), Aaron Cruden (27), Ryan Crotty (2).

Stoked for Piutau to get the start. Also the forwards from the bench could have a heck of an impact, lots of youthful running in those legs!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Considering that France are about as predictable as chaos theory I am very interested in seeing your reasoning behind this prediction.

you make it sounds like it is solely up to France to decide who wins...there will be a second team on the field...they might have something to say about the result

 

[Darwin]

All Blacks squad named:

The All Blacks team to play France at Stade de France on Sunday, kick-off 9am NZT (caps in brackets) is: Israel Dagg (35), Cory Jane (43), Ben Smith (23), Ma'a Nonu (85), Charles Piutau (8), Daniel Carter (98), Aaron Smith (23), Kieran Read (58), Richie McCaw (c) (121), Liam Messam (26), Sam Whitelock (48), Brodie Retallick (21), Owen Franks (51), Keven Mealamu (108), Tony Woodcock (105). Reserves: Dane Coles (12), Wyatt Crockett (21), Charlie Faumuina (15), Steven Luatua (9), Sam Cane (14), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (12), Aaron Cruden (27), Ryan Crotty (2).

Stoked for Piutau to get the start. Also the forwards from the bench could have a heck of an impact, lots of youthful running in those legs!

A largely predictable side - apparently the most experienced All Black side of all time! Disappointing that Savea has been ruled out, but Jane has played well against France in the past (I wonder whether Medard has learnt to tackle him low yet?). The experience of Owen Franks obviously got him the nod over Faumuina, who has been playing pretty well recently, while how they select the two hookers is anyones guess. Interesting to see Luatua on the bench instead of a specialist lock - I imagine they will keep doing this until Romano gets back to full fitness.

The backline more or less picks itself with Savea out - the only debatable position was probably the final back reserve, and I'm glad they went for the more reliable option in Ryan Crotty.

 

[Chikwa]

All Blacks squad named:

The All Blacks team to play France at Stade de France on Sunday, kick-off 9am NZT (caps in brackets) is: Israel Dagg (35), Cory Jane (43), Ben Smith (23), Ma'a Nonu (85), Charles Piutau (8), Daniel Carter (98), Aaron Smith (23), Kieran Read (58), Richie McCaw (c) (121), Liam Messam (26), Sam Whitelock (48), Brodie Retallick (21), Owen Franks (51), Keven Mealamu (108), Tony Woodcock (105). Reserves: Dane Coles (12), Wyatt Crockett (21), Charlie Faumuina (15), Steven Luatua (9), Sam Cane (14), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (12), Aaron Cruden (27), Ryan Crotty (2).

Stoked for Piutau to get the start. Also the forwards from the bench could have a heck of an impact, lots of youthful running in those legs!

Piutau was always going to start with Savea not fully fit. Looking forward seeing cory Jane.

 

[Prestwick]

you make it sounds like it is solely up to France to decide who wins...there will be a second team on the field...they might have something to say about the result

Well more like it is solely up to France if they turn up or not. Remember, France can't win if they won't play. Someone already mentioned the kicking tactics in the June tests...

 

[Patchey]

Ryan Crotty is a bit of a surprise isn't it? Apart from that all fairly standard, I pity the French (and us next week).

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Ryan Crotty is a bit of a surprise isn't it? Apart from that all fairly standard, I pity the French (and us next week).

Yes and no. Crotty's a bit of a safer option at the moment, but I think most people consider Saili to have greater potential.

To be honest, Luatua is a bit more interesting, given that there are three other specialist locks in the squad

 

[Bada-Bing!]

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damian Chouly, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Yannick Forestier.

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Jean-Marc Doussain, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Gael Fickou.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9012569,00.html

 

[Big Ewis]

Haha, kick!

oh. Then yes, we kicked like crazy last summer...close to embarrassing I suppose, in deed.

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Médard, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damian Chouly, 7 Wenceslas Lauret, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (capt), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Yannick Forestier.

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Jean-Marc Doussain, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Gael Fickou.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9012569,00.html

That's right. A predominantly forward-oriented group.
Fickou, Fofana and Fritz all can make good breaks...but Médard and Huget on the wings is a bit light. We've missed Vincent Clerc a lot this year...and I insist we may want to give others a chance, but I guess it's a good move, a conservative mindset with faces we know well and a Toulouse-laden group of backs.

 

[Packman]

Please listen to what Thomas Lombard says in this vid, it's not long (not 5min) and summarizes almost everything about French Rugby this very moment in time:

PLEASE: start at 41:20, I've already preselected the right region in the vid:

[video=youtube_share;jKNgEpZ8g84]http://youtu.be/jKNgEpZ8g84?t=41m20s[/video]

Just listened to the whole show, great snap shot of Kiwiana and their rugby culture. - talk of good habits - pushing the all blacks to achieve more after beating Japan by 50pts oh and hero worship of Mike Brown. And yes Thomas Lombard nailed the state of french rugby. Don't go down the football club root folks, its wrecks the international game. Fra vs NZ. its chalk and cheese. Its different priorities. One worships money, the other worships the sport.

 

[Big Ewis]

Planet Rugby saying we'll get smashed : D

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9013410,00.html

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Planet Rugby saying we'll get smashed : D

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9013410,00.html

The French team will just print that off and put it up in their dressing room as motivation.

 

[Big Ewis]

The French team will just print that off and put it up in their dressing room as motivation.

It's nice of you to show support...unless this was meant as a joke ?!