France Team, Six Nations 2013

[jaunard06]

You will barely see Machenaud...except if Parra gets wounded which I cannot - I don't want to - imagine...

 

[ZeFrenchy]

According to the press, Machenaud will start against Italy: http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Le-blues-de-parra/346753 (and others)

 

[jaunard06]

?!?

 

[Big Ewis]

According to the press, Machenaud will start against Italy: http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Le-blues-de-parra/346753 (and others)

Para's certainly right about Nyanga, fk...you can't take playing for France for granted, ever. Very few spots seem automatic. Even Nyanga who's had fantastic November tests isn't even kept.
We're deep, deep, deep and it feels almost silly to only have 23 for the tournament...

And yes, about the Italy game since ZeFrenchy brought it up with that interview: totally agree with Para. This match is going to be tougher than what ppl believe for sure. They almost got Australia at home just a couple of mths ago...

 

[Da Grappla]

Our back row is decimated...
Not having Clerc, Malzieu, Dulin, etc...is a real pain, and Medard is not more what he used to be...Fall and Huget, WTF ?!
I predict a very average tournament with narrow wins against Italy, Scotland, and losses against Wales and Ireland and as usual a consistent demolition by England.
At least Mr PSA please please do not put Fofana on the wing.....

You serious, monsieur? C'est pas possible

England might well trash&smash France, but Wales...don't think soy even taking the injured guys into account t. Against Ireland could go either way.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

The only reason England ever beat France is because we wear white shirts; I don't know what the scientific explanation is, but it causes French players to have a prolongued seizure (lasting 80 minutes) The real problem for France is that we'll always be able to wear white because white and blue don't clash!

Seriously though, I don't know what you guys are panicking about, everybody else predicts a French tournament win, though not a grand-slam

 

[Big Ewis]

^ hehehe...I dunno there's just a psychological thing against England...we lose some matches against England we shouldn't (last year, fresh example) and lose some matches by more than we should...and we've got one hell of a crappy record in Twickenham !!...it's smt like 10-30.

I know everybody's picked France to win, I did too earlier...but then, looking at the schedule. England have 3home 2away, we're part of the 2home 3away...and two of the aways are against the other two favs.
Henry, I would say, though it's off-topic at this point; I would say the one match you're susceptible of losing is in Ireland.

It's almost fantasy to pick France, because in more realistic terms England has a better schedule, and boy the away/home thing reaaaaaally plays a big role. England don't have to be FANTASTIC to win against France at home...France will need to be very inspired though to win this one, a lot have picked this "crunch" as the tournament decider apparently...

 

[Big Ewis]

(not a double post)
Sorry I keep posting, but I just CAN'T FKN WAIT ANYMORE !!!!!!!!
It's 1am here, and all I'm thinking about is 6N, 6N, 6N...I wish there was more to read on the internet about it and more to discuss here on the forums...

Just a little temporary farewell to Nyanga, my favorite try of the whole Autumn tests:


So fkn brutal that try, I jumped out of the couch that night watching it live and couldn't stop moving my body in excitement lol like a fkn retard ! :lol:

 

[ZeFrenchy]

?!?

+1 and rep.

 

[jaunard06]

Para's certainly right about Nyanga, fk...you can't take playing for France for granted, ever. Very few spots seem automatic. Even Nyanga who's had fantastic November tests isn't even kept.
We're deep, deep, deep and it feels almost silly to only have 23 for the tournament...

We're deep at back row only...still I don't rate Ouedraogo as high as Nyanga, except maybe in line out where Ouedraogo can actually be an option but Nyanga looks better overall and he made an amazing autumn tour.

Seriously though, I don't know what you guys are panicking about, everybody else predicts a French tournament win, though not a grand-slam

I summarize:
1) many injuries in back line,
2) some arguable choices in the selection, even taking into account point #1,
3) lack of training versus other teams as usual.

 

[Big Ewis]

no question Nyanga's better than Ouedraogo, I've never seen anyone make the case for the latter.

And yeh jaunard, sure again the selection is a bit questionable in parts...but overall, this is still a very solid squad on paper that can really do some damage if they mesh well together asap.

 

[jaunard06]

We'll see that. What is sure is that this is the perfect match to set up the team and the result will probably give a good overview of what we can expect for the final tournament result...

 

[Big Ewis]

^ yehhhh but you know, even that isn't necessarily true. We could crush them unprecedentedly and then be mediocre for the rest including 1 or 2 losses...

And we could barely make it through this one but end up with a Grand Slam, very possible.

It's horrible, but in pro sports (especially rugby) we just simply can never be relatively certain of anything...! I wish I could draw conclusions, but just never can with this sport in particular...

 

[gaston le gaff]

The reason Ouedraogo has been picked is because of his work rate is far superior to Nyanga's, time and time again his tackle numbers are the best in his club and when he plays for France alongside Dusatoir, he has plenty to offer in the line outs and defends with his life. The reason many prefer Nyanga is because of his great ability with ball in hand, and some of the great tries he scores but all in all Fu Fu's work rate got him his starting place, along with Dusatoir and Picamoles the French back 3 have everything you require in the scrum, lineouts and the open play. France win by more than 10 points, but it will be no walk over Italy progress every year and with Jaques Brunel in charge who is a master tactition things will never be easy. Could be the match of the opening weekend as England v Scotland is never a classic just a Battle of the yard hards, but this year Scotland have Jonnie Beattie back after his reserection in Montpellier this season, could be the match winner alongside Montpellier new signing Jim Hamilton.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ well yeh I'm pretty eager for the Wales Ireland match really tomorrow, England Scotland will probably be boring but at this point I'm DYING for int'l rugby so I'm watching that one with great anticipation too !!

Didn't know Ouedraogo was that potent on defense, he always looks...average each time I'm watchin him.
Nyanga is of course the classier one, the one with all the power plays and everything...the crowd favorite. And I've got to say, that "revival" of his last November, that he actually cried during the Marseillaise, and those killer performances highlighted by his MASTODON try on Argentina...his work and commitment on defense...I'm verrrrryyyy sorry not to see him.
It seems almost ungrateful not to pick him...

BUT ANYWAYS !!!...that third row still is the best in the tournament, and that's that !!.

 

[jaunard06]

I don't have the feeling - but that's just a feeling, didn' see the stats - that Ouedraogo perform that well with France, with Montpellier maybe, but that's easier to have the highest tackle rate with Montpellier rather than with EdF.
With France he oftens have the greatest difficulty with his ball carrier and sometimes finds himself isolated and obliged to release the ball in bad conditions, while Nyanga has a greatest impact on opponent's defense IMO and carries more efficiently the ball.

But it's just me, I really hope Ouedraogo will be the man, I will observe him more carefully.

 

[wertas]

Get serious. Quadradrogo (I'm not French speaking, so have no clue how to write his surname..) is very good defender even as in Dusatoir case they are significantly lighter than other back-row players. I'd rather have a guy who constantly makes 10-12 tackles, is useful in line-out, always works in breakdown than to have one or two hits per game or other flashy stuff. In Nyanga's case, it is him, or either Dusatoir. Would you drop Dusatoir?

 

[Big Ewis]

I'd have liked to see Dusautoir+Nyanga+Picamoles for the third row, but I'm not sure if that's possible position-wise...open side/blindside.

 

[jaunard06]

Get serious. Quadradrogo (I'm not French speaking, so have no clue how to write his surname..) is very good defender even as in Dusatoir case they are significantly lighter than other back-row players. I'd rather have a guy who constantly makes 10-12 tackles, is useful in line-out, always works in breakdown than to have one or two hits per game or other flashy stuff. In Nyanga's case, it is him, or either Dusatoir. Would you drop Dusatoir?

Do you maintain your comment based on what we saw against Italy ? Ouedraogo defended badly, it is not enough to tackle, you also need to tackle so that the tackled player cannot do anything useful to his team like passing or gaining ground. If Ouedraogo is there it is only because he's an alternative for the line out.

 

[Big Ewis]

We'll rebound either against Wales or away in Twickenham...for that is the way of France, apparently for all eternity. Lose a game shouldn't, win a game we shouldn't (in Eng)...

Missing Dulin, Nyanga, Domingo, Clerc and a starting Parra this time around...

but we'll rebound....we'll rebound.