[EOYT] France vs. Tonga 16/11/13

[Big Ewis]

France vs. Tonga 16/11/13
18:00 CET (UTC+1)

Stade Océane, le Havre
Referee: Glen Jackson (kiwi)


​

It seems these last two EOYT have allowed us to beat our demons. Often, demons that France never should have in the first place.
We had had issues against Australia and Argentina in recent memories, and finally redeemed ourselves last year in 2012 with excellent results.

This year, in 2013, I think we pulled something close to a 2011 RWC Final, without blowing things out of proportions, in terms of containing and even having the upper hand basically the whole way against the All-Blacks as we hosted them in a way no team this year has come close to, but couldn't quite make it exactly as we'd have liked.
Tonga, as comical as it sounds, do represent another of our recent demons that we must conquer. I expect a blowout of course, unless they really do turn up and give us hell for 80minutes.
But we're coming off an ultra-solid performance against the All-Blacks, and this can be a good way for us to try ourselves out on attack in a much more relaxed match de facto.
France needs to flourish on attack again, and this could be a lot of fun for France fans.

 

[SelimNiai]

[EOYT] France v Tonga 16/11/13

Le Havre, kick off 17:00 GMT​

 

[Big Ewis]

errr, hey dude I'd already made a thread, with a crappy commentary and everything here:
http://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/32111-EOYT-France-vs-Tonga-16-11-13

 

[SelimNiai]

Can you copy your post from there to here (not the images obv and we can delete the spare and keep this one stickied?

 

[Big Ewis]

Can you copy your post from there to here (not the images obv and we can delete the spare and keep this one stickied?

well why the hell would I do more work when you've come much later, not paid attention and made your own thread ?! It's your job to correct this, not mine ! Not being a jerk, but seriously though...

 

[SelimNiai]

Because now whatever you put in yours you'll have to type all over again as you refused to simply copy it to here.

 

[Big Ewis]

Was my thread deleted ?!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

sorry to double-post, but I'd written a good paragraph to introduce this match in my thread, and somebody deleted without even looking. Not that it detained the secret to Life, but a good paragraph nonetheless...

I'll also repeat I made my thread first so this is pretty ridiculous what just happened...
I make a thread - somebody else makes the same thread hours later - my thread gets deleted. Explanations ??

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Let her die with dignity.

 

[Big Ewis]

Let her die with dignity.

:lol:
but also, what the absolute fk, TRF...........grrrrrr, anyways.

France to try out some combinations in the XV. A lot of us France fans agree we ought to try out the youngsters, a little bit like how we did against the Blues last summer. It's good to include them, give them some caps, some int'l experience, and try to see a more attack-oriented France flourish. Tonga are the perfect opportunity for that.

In discussion atm, Sofiane Guitoune from Perpignan, who's co-leading the Top 14 in tries scored (with Fidjian winger Talebula). The stat that is shocking though, is that he would be the 64th player in bleus for Phillipe Saint-André...that's a lot of dudes for 2 years...

Personally, I think this is a perfect opportunity to try him, and also to use Rabah Slimani as a starter in the scrum. Nicolas Mas is probably the best at what he does, or a top 3 certainly at least, and he's like 31 already now. Slimani is "short" and strong like a bull too, I hope he can fill in when Mas leaves us. Plus, I love his combative, defiant personality.

Anyways: France to try out more attack-minded, young side. Rest bigger guns for the big show the following weekend.

 

[erwanseb]

Le Harve, kick off 17:00 GMT​

Le Havre, not Le Harve

 

[Packman]

Its really hard to get a handle on the south sea islands. You can't get more mercurial at times, but I do wonder how much of that is down to varying form and how much down to player availability. its kinda like never the same team twice.

Given Tonga's loss to The Mighty Oaks and France's courageous performance vs NZ you'd be daft to say Tonga will win. It would be nice to see a ruthless edge to France though.

 

[Big Ewis]

Le Havre, not Le Harve

you'll have to excuse him, he was in a hurry...

Its really hard to get a handle on the south sea islands. You can't get more mercurial at times, but I do wonder how much of that is down to varying form and how much down to player availability. its kinda like never the same team twice.

Given Tonga's loss to The Mighty Oaks and France's courageous performance vs NZ you'd be daft to say Tonga will win. It would be nice to see a ruthless edge to France though.

Agreed. But I'm pretty sure they had a weak team against Romania. But yes, there's no excuse, we need to drop a good 30 at least on them.

 

[psychic duck]

Agreed. But I'm pretty sure they had a weak team against Romania. But yes, there's no excuse, we need to drop a good 30 at least on them.

Wrong as per usual.

 

[Big Ewis]

Wrong as per usual.

and still a colossal jerk yourself....there are a few interesting points I left out to discuss up there, surely you'd pick the one possible negative element you could find and post a comment just for that. God, please don't ever go anywhere excited duck, I truly cherish your acid presence here......*yawn*

Oh, well, actually I'm glad you made that comment...so you're saying they were at full strength and lost to Romania. Mkay, I'll take your word for it....but I read they were resting their better players for the match against France, I guess those people were wrong.

 

[dragos03]

Tonga used their best available squad against Romania, but they didn't play well, I think they had the wrong tactic and made several bad decisions during the match. Romania's agressive defence really frustrated the Tongans and some of them were crying at the end. They will surely step up in Le Havre but France should get a confortable win.

 

[Big Ewis]

Tonga used their best available squad against Romania, but they didn't play well, I think they had the wrong tactic and made several bad decisions during the match. Romania's agressive defence really frustrated the Tongans and some of them were crying at the end. They will surely step up in Le Havre but France should get a confortable win.

hey man, I don't mean to be disrespectful towards Romanian Rugby here, just so you know. It's just Tonga have been able to pull off some good performances and even upsets (ahemm.........) and I'd imagine they would beat Romania by a healthy margin even in Romania. I mean just last year's tour, they did come close against Italy and then actually beat Scotland, both away games.

Anyways: I have a feeling France know what to expect and won't underestimate them...............this time ! :lol:
I think coming close against the All-Blacks, and the whole year really basically, they want to finally put a big one on some team. There's even an article on Rugbyrama.fr entitled "Are Tonga victims of our anger", because we've been so focused all year and come close every game except test 2 in NZ, it seems we'll unleash a lot of frustration out this time because we want to show what we can do.

Of course, many rookies or youngsters are in the discussion, so it's not like the goal is to score the highest total possible either...
Unfortunately, there is officially talk of Michalak (and Ouedraogo, but that's good) returning !!!!!! AAAAAAAAHH !!! WHY Saint-André ?!! He's old, won't/shouldn't be there for London 2015, he's fairly injured and can't play anymore, but more importantly we've GOT a fly-half and a good backup, we've secured the near future, WHYYYY !!!

Anyways: should be super fun this one, looking forward to it a whole lot.

Toulousains Fritz and Huget will be resting this out.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't know if France will go all out and with a full on erection against Tonga. In fact I'd be surprised. I think France and SA have a very similar psychy as test teams. We find it difficult to string together 2 up-to-potenital performances back to back and I think France will feel that the match against NZ, although a loss, was up there and satisfactory. I could be talking the biggest load of BS of course but that is a feeling I get at times.

Anyways, with the depth France have at their disposal a comfortable win should be expected in any case.

PS, I know I should support France here, and I do, but.. Tonga is just so lovable.

 

[dragos03]

hey man, I don't mean to be disrespectful towards Romanian Rugby here, just so you know. It's just Tonga have been able to pull off some good performances and even upsets (ahemm.........) and I'd imagine they would beat Romania by a healthy margin even in Romania. I mean just last year's tour, they did come close against Italy and then actually beat Scotland, both away games.

France is surely a big favorite in this match. But I also agree with you that Tonga was also a big favorite against Romania. Yet, they lost.

 

[Big Ewis]

I don't know if France will go all out and with a full on erection against Tonga. In fact I'd be surprised. I think France and SA have a very similar psychy as test teams. We find it difficult to string together 2 up-to-potenital performances back to back and I think France will feel that the match against NZ, although a loss, was up there and satisfactory. I could be talking the biggest load of BS of course but that is a feeling I get at times.

Anyways, with the depth France have at their disposal a comfortable win should be expected in any case.

PS, I know I should support France here, and I do, but.. Tonga is just so lovable.

No, no, you're right. France have of course always underestimated teams and lost matches to Tier 2 nations they never should have lost. But it's sort of the "trap" as we'd say in French here. The one thing France always does that we consciously know we must avoid. Playing at a standard, sub-par level of intensity and see them score a try....then another. All of a sudden we've got a game on our hands, the Tongans are berserk with bloodlust and we win it by just 10 at the end.
This match is a typical "trap" for France, as in truth we're really waiting for the following week when the Boks come to town. A side like England would treat this match like any other: the highest intensity and underestimate no one, ever. Not the French....
we'll see, but I'd still imagine a high score still, but most probably France take the foot off the pedal when they feel confident as they almost always do.