France v Ireland

[An Tarbh]

that's the danger from a French point of view as far as I'm concerned. Lievremont was talking before the championship about how beating England is the be all and end all basically as far as this season is concerned. So the danger is that they could slip up against either Ireland or Scotland.

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 10 2010, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

that's the danger from a French point of view as far as I'm concerned. Lievremont was talking before the championship about how beating England is the be all and end all basically as far as this season is concerned. So the danger is that they could slip up against either Ireland or Scotland.[/b]

Good effort there Tarbh but I believe our lack of consistency is not explainable by logic. We could aswell trash Ireland and England but lose ridiculously to Wales or even Italy. After everyone of the odd defeats we have suffered I tried to explain why and when our weaknesses happened but there is just no way to do that.
Being the underdogs serves us right? We were against England last year and still completely played ****!
We are unbeatable at home? We were against NZ and still got spanked very hard in Marseilles!
We are **** away from home? Our most convincing victory this year was in Dunedin against NZ!

One thing is for certain though : we won't slip up against Scotland! :lol:

 

[elgringoborracho]

France's 22 against Ireland :

Starting XV: Poitrenaud ; Clerc, Bastareaud, Jauzion, Palisson ; (o) Trinh-Duc, (m) Parra ; Ouedraogo, Harinordoquy, Dusautoir ; Nallet, Papé ; Mas, Servat, Domingo.

Remplacements : Szarzewski, Marconnet, Pierre, Bonnaire, Michalak, Marty, Malzieu.

23rd man: Jean-Baptiste Poux

Palisson starting might come as a surprise but he is playing very well at the moment, he's a very all around player and has a great boot so for me it is quite logical. I don't exactly know what he is worth in defense, and he will be facing Bowe so I kind of fear that duel. Malzieu will be a good option if anyone of the back three is having an off day, since Palisson can also play at fullback.

Apart from that, same team. There again, Lievremont is right to start trusting players for more than one match, and our pack will be very good.

I still believe though that our center pair will be outplayed by the two Irish geniuses (the famous one, and the one thanks to whom the famous one is so famous), so I fear a couple of tries if not more coming from there.
We will have Bastareaud vs O'Driscoll, and although I know who is going to win the duel, it will certainly be great to watch!

 

[An Tarbh]

bah meant Wales, don't know where Scotland came from, anyway he may not be in the best of form but it does send a shiver down your spine seeing Clerc in a team against Ireland.

 

[gingergenius]

I think it would just about make my day if Clerc bounces off O'Gara to score the winning try in the dying seconds. Come on France!

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gingergenius @ Feb 10 2010, 02:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I think it would just about make my day if Clerc bounces off O'Gara to score the winning try in the dying seconds. Come on France![/b]

 

[wertas]

Why Lievremont is so obsessed with Jauzion. He is slow in defence. Most problems of defence are in midfield, 12 and 13 positions.

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RTE Website)</div>

Keith Earls : "I suppose victory would be all the sweeter given what happened in the football. If we won by cheating, it would be payback"[/b]

Stupidest comment ever made by a player ever. It has nothing to do with rugby and cheaters should always lose no matter what. Two french players have been banned for 25 and 70 weeks this year playing against an Irish club so I don't think there is a bias whatsoever favoring french players in any sport.

Way to set a stinky mood before the game Mr Earls, chapeau bas.

 

[Olyy]

That's a stupid comment by Earls.


Allez les Bleus!

 

[An Tarbh]

get off your high horses, that was obviously a tongue in cheek comment.

Anyway we'll never win by cheating with Wayne Barnes in charge, the French can look forward to a high penalty count in their favour.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 10 2010, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

get off your high horses, that was obviously a tongue in cheek comment.

Anyway we'll never win by cheating with Wayne Barnes in charge, the French can look forward to a high penalty count in their favour.[/b]

I think it was too but still it's a dangerous and unprofessional tongue-in-cheek comment to make

 

[elgringoborracho]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 10 2010, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

get off your high horses, that was obviously a tongue in cheek comment.

Anyway we'll never win by cheating with Wayne Barnes in charge, the French can look forward to a high penalty count in their favour.[/b]

I'm not on my high horses, I know it's not the point of view of the Irish in general, I just think it's not very intelligent to say that!

 

[An Tarbh]

well to be honest it probably is and if it serves as added motivation for the players on Saturday, then so be it.

 

[elgringoborracho]

Fair enough, we'd probably be as ungracious if we had been cheated out of a world cup too... -_-
I just hope we don't see stupid violence on saturday because of the players seeking revenge or something

 

[roscommon guy]

Vincent Clerc is going to have a nightmare on saturday and O'Driscoll is going to put in a massive tackle on Bastareau.

I fancy a nice brawl.

Ferris vs Bastareau to start it off

 

[shtove]

Does Bastareaud chase high kicks? I know he's got great momentum, but I guess he doesn't have the acceleration to do that particular job. Just wondering if Kearney can expect a crushed ribcage in the first few minutes of the match.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elgringoborracho @ Feb 10 2010, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Fair enough, we'd probably be as ungracious if we had been cheated out of a world cup too... -_-
I just hope we don't see stupid violence on saturday because of the players seeking revenge or something[/b]

it's nothing like that, they'll just be extra driven to get the win. Rugby players are far more intelligent than football players and would never be stupid enough to seek retribution over the football. They'll be happy enough with the win thank you very much.

 

[Olyy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (seanAF @ Feb 10 2010, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

O'Driscoll is going to put in a massive tackle on Bastareau.[/b]

It'd have to be, or bastareaud will just plough straight through him, taking half of O'Driscoll along n all

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Feb 11 2010, 06:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (seanAF @ Feb 10 2010, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

O'Driscoll is going to put in a massive tackle on Bastareau.[/b]

It'd have to be, or bastareaud will just plough straight through him, taking half of O'Driscoll along n all
[/b][/quote]
I imagine the idea will be to intercept Jauzion's offloads + shepherd Basta toward the wing. Taking him on dead ahead would be suicide.

 

[roscommon guy]

Don't like that guy Bastareau he is the example that this sport is not going in the right direction. 15 people spent a night behind bars because his rubbish story.
Sure he's on a few drugs did you see the size of the guy.