France v Australia

[TRF_Cymro]

Stade de France
27 November 2010
Kick Off 19:45​

 

[Charles]

People, this is not gonna be pretty. Don't let your kids watch it...

 

[elgringoborracho]

I wouldn't be as negative as you Charles. Our scrum is going to eat the Oz scrum alive so we'll probably have a load of penalties and turnover balls to feed off. The big question is will our 3/4 be better than against Argentina? My bet is yes they will. Traille needed a game to get accustomed to playing alongside Jauzion and Rougerie, I think he's an intelligent player and won't be as appalling as last week. We really need Trinh-Duc though, him launching Rougerie into gaps is really something I'd love to see.
And since we were superb in defense against the Argies I think we can hold the likes of Barnes or Ashley Cooper. I'd be more worried on Palisson's wing against Mitchell or O'Connor, and at the breakdown.

Last saturday's borefest isn't entirely due to the french. The argies systematically slowed down the ball at the breakdown and they were right to do so. They had been saying all week that without quick ball, the French forget how to play. It's quite true since we lose patience after two or three passages of play.

If we don't concede too many turnovers and manage relatively quick ball we might have a real chance at this one.

No Medard, Clerc, Fritz or Poitrenaud is still a big joke to me (no i'm not a Toulouse fan) but it's still manageable... Let's just watch closely the English game and try to copy what they did!

PS.
The French XV

Starting XV: Porical ; Huget, Rougerie, Jauzion, Palisson ; (o) Traille, (m) Parra ; Ouedraogo, Chabal, Dusautoir ; Nallet, Pierre ; Mas, Servat, Domingo.

Subs: Guirado, Schuster, Thion, Bonnaire, Yachvili, Estebanez, Andreu.

23rd man: Ducalcon

 

[eot345]

Basteraud wooo !!

 

[lynam1104]

is the list of Toulouse players you included injured or not being picked?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Basteraud wooo !!

He's not playing...

 

[elgringoborracho]

is the list of Toulouse players you included injured or not being picked?

Not being picked. The coach says he already knows their value so he doesn't need to have them play and he would rather try players like Huget, Andreu or Palisson.
Huget has been very good with bayonne this year, he is quick and strong and finds a lot of gaps, but Medard, Clerc, Poitrenaud, Malzieu all have scored more tries this year (supposedly because they play in better teams) so I'm quite critical about this.
This team isn't too bad though, particularly when I look at our forwards I am confident for the WC. With Barcella back and Harinordoquy back to his last 6N form they are going to be awesome.
About Bastareaud i think it's a kick in the butt to him so he starts losing a bit of weight. I reckon he'll be in the group come the WC.
Rougerie has been good and outside center for Clermont, and he was the best french back against Argentina. Unexpectedly he might be our best option at 13. He still has a lot of pace and strengh and he's an ox in defense.

 

[cardassian]

Hopefully France front up and have a big game this week.

They'll kill Aussie in the tight so they'll get good ball from set piece to play with.

If they can contain Aussie's backs and get some penetration with their own they stand a good chance in this one.

 

[gingergenius]

Still a strong team, plus Andreu and Porical are lovely players so it's not so bad to see them included in the squad ahead of Poitrenaud and co.

 

[ckell]

Can't wait to see this one...

 

[eot345]

why bastareud not playin??

 

[Gavin]

why bastareud not playin??

He was left out of the squad.

 

[elgringoborracho]

The ozzie XV:

Starting XV: Beale ; O'Connor, Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Mitchell ; (o) Cooper, (m) Genia ; Pocock, McCalman, Elsom (cap.) ; Sharpe, Simmons ; Alexander, Moore, Slipper.

Subs: Polota-Nau, Robinson, Chisholm, Higginbotham, Burgess, Giteau, Turner.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Hard to pick a winner but I would say AUS

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Got to go with Aus as well,
Both teams aren't playing to their potential, but I feel Australia will be the stronger team (though they'll get munched in the scrum)

 

[cardassian]

Good looking side for Aus.
Barnes at 2/5 makes them a lot stronger than Giteau imo.
The battle in the set piece will be all France however.
This Aus should win this one but hope France pull off the upset (although I really hate supporting France).

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Think we're solid in defense, scrum should be strong but not enough to create a real advantage in attack. The 2 previous matches weather did not give the team good conditions to experiment the backrow on a open game, and rain might be changed for...snow tomorrow.
In that case, will depends on Parra's, Yach's and Traille's feet for penalties and drop.

 

[elgringoborracho]

Well it hurts to say but bad weather might actually suit us since we'll probably win the battle up front, but even more probably get schooled by their awesome backs if the conditions are ok to pass the ball.
But I'm a spectator and lover of the game before all and this game is not important so i really hope it doesn't snow!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Justin Bieber tweeted last night that this is the first time he's ever seen it snow,
Reckon the Aussie backs might be in for a shock playing in the stuff!

 

[Shaggy]

Should be a good game ... I hope it lives up to it's potential with two of the best running sides in world rugby

... what happens in the IRB rankings if the Wallabies lose

PS Send Bieber my way, there's snow close at hand, and a shovel he can use to shift it