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

[ZeFrenchy]

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.

I sort of agree with you. We tend to play according to the rival, just well enough to be right under the result we were looking for (that's the big difference with SA). I guess it's the contrary to the Lièvremont era, where we were playing like crap all the time and all of a sudden pull out a grand slam, or a WC final (while still playing like crap).

By the way, I'd like to see how Michalak does in blue [/sarcasm]

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

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.

I sort of agree with you. We tend to play according to the rival, just well enough to be right under the result we were looking for (that's the big difference with SA). I guess it's the contrary to the Lièvremont era, where we were playing like crap all the time and all of a sudden pull out a grand slam, or a WC final (while still playing like crap).

Anyway, besides all that I am still picking France by 15+ simply because I think you have a couple of hungry youngsters and/or fringe players that will want to impress.

By the way, I'd like to see how Michalak does in blue [/sarcasm]

SA does the same thing. We'll raise our game for NZ and especially England (at least the Boer guys in the team would) but tend to go at it with a little less intensity against the likes of Aus and Argentina in the Rugby championship and will fall every now and again to a team like Scotland where NZ would never be caught dead not putting at least 40 on Scotland as an example. Oh, we'll put Italy away by a ton because its the first game of the season, then nearly succumb to Scotland and then trash Samoa again because we were a little embarrassed in the previous game and lambasted in the press.

I don't want to take anything away from the teams that 'upset' us and I think you guys feel the same (tip your hat to the opposition but at the same time some frustration, even a little embarrassment) but I truly feel, to some degree at least, we lower our intensity for games we expect to easily win and SHOULD easily win. I see France as having this mind-set as well only probably at a more acute level LOL. The mere fact that there is ANY doubt as to the result here almost sums up my point best.

 

[Big Ewis]

SA does the same thing. We'll raise our game for NZ and especially England (at least the Boer guys in the team would) but tend to go at it with a little less intensity against the likes of Aus and Argentina in the Rugby championship and will fall every now and again to a team like Scotland where NZ would never be caught dead not putting at least 40 on Scotland as an example. Oh, we'll put Italy away by a ton because its the first game of the season, then nearly succumb to Scotland and then trash Samoa again because we were a little embarrassed in the previous game and lambasted in the press.

I don't want to take anything away from the teams that 'upset' us and I think you guys feel the same (tip your hat to the opposition but at the same time some frustration, even a little embarrassment) but I truly feel, to some degree at least, we lower our intensity for games we expect to easily win and SHOULD easily win. I see France as having this mind-set as well only probably at a more acute level LOL. The mere fact that there is ANY doubt as to the result here almost sums up my point best.

absolutely, intelligently put. It does sum up your point. We're all sure France wins this, even they can't manage to actually blow this. But as I've exposed above, Tonga could surprise us just a little and we've got a pretty tight game for a while.
And about Samoa for SA last summer, I think the Boks knew they had to bring everything they had and not fall into that "trap" of finishing off the tournament softly but surely. They knew they had to absolutely annihilate them, completely discourage them and pound them on attack. In a way, we should've seen it coming - everybody was really surprised, but we didn't take into consideration the strangely frail psychological quality of the Samoans. They can sometimes have this "meehhh, it's not FAIR !!" childish frustration.

Anyways: still, France by a mile. I'm sure they know exactly what everybody is thinking, that they expect Tonga to hang in this one. And Saint-André himself says "we have to not be French" lol.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, I did mention in my above post that I am sure France will still walk this partly due to just having superior talent/depth- with a few hungry and talented youngsters along with proven test class players- and on the other hand knowing they have let games slip in the past but I have found my edits get lost somehow even if it does say I did edit... some glitch with the site; very frustrating when you pour something of yourself into a post only for it to.. simply not be.

 

[Big Ewis]

Yeah, I did mention in my above post that I am sure France will still walk this partly due to just having superior talent/depth- with a few hungry and talented youngsters along with proven test class players- and on the other hand knowing they have let games slip in the past but I have found my edits get lost somehow even if it does say I did edit... some glitch with the site; very frustrating when you pour something of yourself into a post only for it to.. simply not be.

terribly sorry for your loss, and don't worry, I forgive you for your pitiful incompetence

...

The group as of right now:
Avants: Forestier, Debaty, Mas, Slimani, Kayser, Szarzewski, Papé, Maestri, Vahaamahina, Dusautoir, Chouly, Ouedraogo, Le Roux.
Arrières: Parra, Pélissié, Michalak, Tales, Bastareaud, Fickou, Fofana, Médard, Guitoune, Dulin.


- He's back !!
- Who ?!
- HE is back !.........in a no.10 jersey !
- ...........sweet Mother of God Almighty, the Lord have mercy on our souls.



well it's not *that* bad...but......errr...he's back.

 

[Tonga_rugby]

Le XV de départ:
15. Dulin
14.Guitoune
13. Fickou
12. Fofana
11. Medard
10. Tales
9.Parra
7. Ouedraogo
8. Chouly
6. Dusautoir (cap)
5. Maestri
4. Vahaamahina
3. Mas
2. Szarzewski
1. Forestier.

Les remplaçants: 16. Kayser, 17. Debaty, 18. Slimani, 19. Papé, 20. Le Roux, 21. Pélissié, 22. Michalak, 23. Bastareaud.

 

[Aspry]

So Willie Le Roux got mad at Heyneke Meyer for benching him last week so he decided to play for France from now on, wow :O

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

By the way how is Bernard le Roux working out? Is he another Pierre Spies or does he actually get stuck into a game?

Any SA expats facing the Bokke can expect an extra tough game next week; just look at Richardt Strauss after the SA - Ireland match.

 

[Big Ewis]

Well he's more than just perfect muscle definition and no game, if that's where you're getting at !

Here's a vid from last summer against the Auckland Blues, a non-capped match during our Tour of NZ:


Haven't seen much of him...he's pretty good. I think he's better than Claassen personally, but has work to do.

 

[Croket66]

only 3 changes (in bold) for Tonga after the defeat against Romania

Taumalolo - Taione - Mailau
Lokotui - Tuineau
Kalamafoni - Fonua - Latu (cap)
Moa - Apikotoa
Helu - Piukala - Piutau - Vainikolo
Lilo


​

 

[Jaguares]

France by 25...

 

[MACA]

Hello everybody, I'm MACA, a french student in Cahors, next to Toulouse. I'm 18.
I am register here to try speaking about a subject wich interests me, and rugby is my hobby. My Engliish teacher asked me to make it.

So, to answer at subject, I think French manager has to give time for Young players, they need experience !
Tonga is physical team but the Young are prepared and capables to win this match.

Thanks to your reading.

 

[Big Ewis]

Hello everybody, I'm MACA, a french student in Cahors, next to Toulouse. I'm 18.
I am register here to try speaking about a subject wich interests me, and rugby is my hobby. My Engliish teacher asked me to make it.

So, to answer at subject, I think French manager has to give time for Young players, they need experience !
Tonga is physical team but the Young are prepared and capables to win this match.

Thanks to your reading.

Hey man, welcome. It's a good idea to practice English here. Stay here, read what ppl say, it'll improve your grammar a lot the more you read and condition your mind to English patterns and structure.
You'll find some people are friendly, try not to lose your time with others, but make sure you format your brain by reading English regularly.

My team this season is Toulouse too, glad to have another Toulousain here.
Good luck, and let's enjoy the match tonight !

 

[RWC2011Fan]

No one watching this game? Was 14-3 last time I checked, about 32/33 minutes gone.

 

[Croket66]

Pleasant game
min 38 : 14-6

 

[Big Ewis]

No one watching this game? Was 14-3 last time I checked, about 32/33 minutes gone.

hey bro, this match makes me think of one thing. New Zealand are GREAT because they can *finish plays off*. Something both Tonga and France are struggling to do here, and we have struggled with all year, including most of all 4 tests against NZL this year in 2013.
We get good position, work good combinations, do everything and then....bam. The score stays the same, no added 7 points to the board.
NZL have had like 5 opportunities against last week in Paris, and despite ultra-solid defense, made 2 of those 5. We camped in your 22 and scored 1 try.

Major props to NZ for that, because watching other nation sides, we understand how hard it is.
This post is an ode to the All-Black attack, it's just amazing.
People don't understand how hard it is to finish off a constructed try in traffic, we take it for granted, especially from NZ, because they score about 10 in every single match.

 

[Big Ewis]

Pleasant game
min 38 : 14-6

heh, "pleasant"...it's more peasant than pleasant. France should be up 4 tries by now. We looked scary in the first half overall, despite very good defense, one excellent try and a monstrous scrum as usual.
Where - the - hell - is - our - ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK ?!!!
From other teams I don't mind, but in France we've got the freaking material to string beautiful plays, and DO that, but only so often...

This is to hoping they wake tha fk up in the second half, and Tonga are tired out, and stop murdering our freaking roster because we've got the Springboks next in Paris, and we put another 4 tries on them.
Godspeed XV de France, show us smt goddammit.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

That's an important point, Big E.

I was thinking the same thing particularly Tonga should really have had a try by now but for an off load that didn't happen or a guy that just needed to have a tiny bit more patience etc etc.

In the SA vs NZ game in Jo'Burg I read somewhere (I can't remember the exact numbers but these are close enough just to illustarte) that SA scored 4 tries off of what would count as 16 chances while NZ scored 5 tries off of (and this number I'm not 100% sure of and think these numbers of 'opportunoties' are subjective in any case) 8/9 chances.

That would mean that you would really and truly have to dominate them to outscore them if they are converting opportunites at more than twice the rate you are.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ in deed my friend, in deed. New Zealand are *amazing*, if not for one flaw. But it is an abyssal, massively debilitating flaw: psychological frailty.

Anyways, I'll try to make this math-structured and concise:
- Tonga have resurrected (as if it were ever dead..) for a long time their horrible reputation. Call me a racist, but at least in this match, they were brutal and malicious-minded. Not a single French player looked pretty at the end of this, with many stitches and bruises.
- Guitoune is going to be one exciting winger to watch for France.
- Dulin, what a blessing for France.
- France have looked MISERABLE - *MISERABLE* on attack on many specific occasions fresh in my mind as I type. Other times, well above average for a NH side. Hard to explain, but Guitoune and Dulin both said the exact same thing in the post-match interview: if only we had more time together, just like all the other international sides...I accept that cause, XV de France.
- Tonga haven't looked like a progressed team.
- I hope the IRB look deep into this match and its messes, and take proper SEVERE action. A player punching another one for no reason is unacceptable, and Maestri got red carded too though he didn't initiate contact. Unfair.

SOUTH AFRICA:
you guys are really good these days, but the attack isn't where it could be still.
Everything that's worked easily for France today (setpiece, scrum, mauls..etc...) happen to be the Springboks' strengths too. Will be very interesting, and I hope with all my heart at least both teams play to potential.
I don't want to beat an uninspired Bok side, and I don't want France to play like shyt when they've got a fantastic, exciting and substantial roster.
Amen.

 

[Rich Taff]

Very harsh red for the French guy. What was he supposed to do when the Tongan walked up, grabbed him by the shirt and punched him?