France v Wales, 09/02/13

[dullonien]

Again ... (just tired of having to stand up for him)

First two to three scrums he was a shambles, but actually pulled it back for the rest and did a job. Most of the problems were actually coming from Adam Jones's side through a variety of reasons.

Yeah, it certainly looked like Adam was having a tough time. Like I said, I question whether both Hibbard and Adam are fully fit, and I'm pretty sure that Gethin isn't fully match fit either yet, although that fitness is returning quickly. It left us a little under cooked in the scrum where I'm not going to blame anyone in particular but put it down to a collective issue in the front 5.

 

[Big Ewis]

I know the England France match thread won't appear for a while since there's the 2week break, so I'll post this here.
Very psyched to hear about who's joining the team for the Twickenham showdown !!
5 new guys.
Domingo in the scrum, Nyanga at flanker and fkn Clerc's returning (at the wing I hope !! ). Three guys I wanted in from the start, very good news !! (except Clerc who just wasn't available..)
Then rookies Christophe Samson at lock n Antonie Claassen...

We're also getting rid of....well, good riddances !
Maxime Mermoz, Damien Chouly, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Yannick Forestier and Romain Taofifénua.

Anyone see Mermoz do anything GOOD this tournament ?! Chouly, haven't seen ANY of that guy...Ouedraogo, srs problems defensively; Forestier was fine, especially in the scrum I recall against Wales, but wtvr...and Taofifénua will just simply never get the time to show what he can do at int'l level !!...

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I don't think Claassen deserves the call up. We have better. Personnally, I like Chouly, I'd have kept him, or call Lapandry or Gunther before Claassen.

For the rest, I don't see the point of calling Samson. He's not good enough, and he's already 30. If we were going to call up an oldie, I'd rather have Pierre or Millo-Chlusky.

I'm ok with the rest.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Is St Andre clutching at straws befoe the P45 arrives if he looses the next two games against England and Ireland which could happen, more possible than impossible he could well be on his way to becoming another Canal + specialist. As stated Samson is not a youngster, and the tournament is lost so maybe a chance to blood some younger players for the next World Cup.
The experience would be enormous and there is only pride now to be lost as everything went out of the window in the first 2 games, players like Mikka Demarco or Pierre Berand,( sorry both Montpellier) both were considered before the 6 Nations its time the coaches showed a little courage they are always harping on about the players fronting up yet they often hide behing their suits and pathetic excuses. The question is will he continue to pick Michalak at 10 or give Trinh-Duc the chance he now deserves as Michalak should have been dropped. He was given the lowest rating 2.5 out of 10 for the Welsh match, how can you keep a player of little ability at fly half when he is a scrum half not a 10!!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

I don't think Claassen deserves the call up. We have better. Personnally, I like Chouly, I'd have kept him, or call Lapandry or Gunther before Claassen.

For the rest, I don't see the point of calling Samson. He's not good enough, and he's already 30. If we were going to call up an oldie, I'd rather have Pierre or Millo-Chlusky.

I'm ok with the rest.

^ yeh...then again the guys have never shown what they can do at int'l level, and what they've really got at the biggest stage.
And I'm more than "okay" with the rest !!

Say, do you know if Fofana's back in the middle, or did I read that last article wrong ??..

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Still no true fullback, should be a balls long pouring afternoon...(As long as we have the ability to keep the ball as we do, it shouldn't be worrying for England to leave it)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

^ yeh...then again the guys have never shown what they can do at int'l level, and what they've really got at the biggest stage.
And I'm more than "okay" with the rest !!

Say, do you know if Fofana's back in the middle, or did I read that last article wrong ??..

Now there are only three centres, so he's likely to play there.

 

[Big Ewis]

Now there are only three centres, so he's likely to play there.

yeh, plus Fall's back and Clerc...Huget ? Still fullback ?...he wasn't too bad at that tbh...had some good plays in those two matches so far, even though naturally he's more comfortable on the sides.

 

[Thingimubob]

I was lucky enough to get a ticket for this one about 30 mins before kick off, only just made the Stade de France in time for the anthems! Not a vintage game by any standard, but what a result! Just what we needed and could see us back in the frame as ***le contenders! You could see how much it meant to the players on the pitch, Jamie Roberts even had a few tears going on in an interview with S4C straight after the match. Hoping this will spur us on, and we can certainly build off this and get some tidy results! Roll on Italia!

 

[MlleJuju]

It really is a horrible emotional rollercoaster to be a supporter of the French Team.
After the brilliant November wins, we finally hoped that our team acquired some stability, and they planted big dreams in our heads.
And then this happens. Two unexplained losses. And it just KILLS us to see how clueless they've been in these matches, when they were so brilliant a few months ago!

I was talking with an English friend and he was saying how "tame" and "unpatriotic" he thought French supporters are. It's true, and that's because we know that we can't trust being happy with our team, because some ridiculous loss is bound to happen straight after a good win. It's very sad, but unfortunately true.

In this tournament though, it is very obvious that there is an underlying issue. I'm not saying that Italy and Wales didn't play well, I'm saying there is something very wrong going on in the French team. Too many injured players, no preparation time, and players who are not playing at their usual positions. I'm hoping this chaos will be constructive and help them sort everything out for the RWC.

I'm tempted to say that, knowing the French, they will take these losses personally, look for revenge and will produce a great match against England. However, this time, I feel like there are real underlying problems, and that we might actually end up with wooden spoon.

Anyway, Que sera sera.
Allez les Bleus.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ exactly my sentiment.
Welcome to the forum btw !

It's the exact expression I use "emotional rollercoaster".
The Wooden Spoon to France would have been the greatest hilarity in all of Rugby just 2, 3 months ago. Simply hilarious, a fantastic good laugh. And now, though it won't actually happen, it certainly is a very possible thing.

I'm very very intrigued about this coming match next weekend in Twickenham. By the looks of things right now, we lost both relatively "easy matches", they've won both theirs; we have a terrible record historically in Twickenham...
According to the cliché rules of French inconsistency, yadi yada, it's been said 50 times already...we're in for a BIG performance.
But I can see this virtual spark shut down very fast as the atmosphere and intensity suffocate us, and we're still experimenting with our attack and England calmly but surely pile up those 3pointers...though Nyanga+Domingo+Clerc gives us way more stability and is 3 big steps closer to the November team...
I'm to understand Fof goes back to midfield as well...Michalak and Machenaud will react big time, or simply Para steps in to start the game this time...

Like, without the French inconsistency theory, I have objective reason to believe this still will be a lot better than the first two.

And boy oh boy, while we're at it...how blurry and uncertain things look now thinking of the World Cup in 2 years...and things will only keep evolving, and moving...

 

[Tony Manx]

Just watching Poitrenaud giving a master class at 15 against USAP and Medard seems to be fully recovered too...not sure why they are not being added to the squad in view of recent performances! Fickou is playing but has been pretty invisible........ST doing just enough and look like easy winners against USAP even though just coming up to half time and only 12..6!

Edit - but there again, a super try from USAP and ST have not done nearly enough to save their three year home record!

 

[Big Ewis]

Haven't seen the match yet, but it's getting a little fkn annoying to hear our other players are fine and not seeing PSA use them.
Just thinking of Huget (though to be fair, he's shown some quality at 15) at fullback just.....is just ridiculous. Like, how did it come to this, he's barely qualified for winger at int'l level :lol: !!...wish he could finally explode one game, just one int'l game..

 

[Surefire]

^
It's the exact expression I use "emotional rollercoaster".
The Wooden Spoon to France would have been the greatest hilarity in all of Rugby just 2, 3 months ago. Simply hilarious, a fantastic good laugh. And now, though it won't actually happen, it certainly is a very possible thing.
.

I think it's a good laugh that you think we won't get the wooden spoon!

 

[Big Ewis]

I think it's a good laugh that you think we won't get the wooden spoon!

yeh like besides the juggling with phrases here, you're actually sure France will get the Spoon is what you're saying ?

 

[Surefire]

We were fortunate to lose close to Italy, and against Wales, the team was hopelessly lost. Switching Fofana to centre will not change the England outcome. However you asked a simple question so I will give you a straight answer.
Yes I think France will have the wooden spoon.
I am not one to run and hide, however and will be sure to apologize for doubting the team, and you, if they avoid the wooden spoon.

 

[Big Ewis]

:lol: no need for apologies, but come on lol in the worst possible case we've won nothing and we've got Scotland at home for one last huge effort, you think Wooden Spoon ?!...
nahhh, but anyways...don't want to sound all confident and jinx the team so I'll keep silent ! I think that's what everybody's doing right now, but I'm quite interested in this Twickenham game, not at all sold on a blowout from England...

 

[martinspoonboy1]

:lol: no need for apologies, but come on lol in the worst possible case we've won nothing and we've got Scotland at home for one last huge effort, you think Wooden Spoon ?!...
nahhh, but anyways...don't want to sound all confident and jinx the team so I'll keep silent ! I think that's what everybody's doing right now, but I'm quite interested in this Twickenham game, not at all sold on a blowout from England...

To 'Win' the wooden spoon, you dont need to lose all of your matches, you just need to come last. thus if italy beat wales or ireland, france could potentially get the spoon even if they beat scotland on points difference, unlikely, but a possibility nonetheless.

 

[gaston le gaff]

have to disagree the Wooden Spoon is only merited if you loose all 5 games and finish with 0 points!!!

 

[Big Ewis]

To 'Win' the wooden spoon, you dont need to lose all of your matches, you just need to come last. thus if italy beat wales or ireland, france could potentially get the spoon even if they beat scotland on points difference, unlikely, but a possibility nonetheless.

well maybe the meaning has evolved but the Spoon is when you lose all matches...well at some point right ?...am I wrong here ?
Thought for sure.....wait...lemme check.

Oh no you're right...I was sure it was for losing ALL MATCHES, not just finishing last; a bit like a Grand Slam and then just winning the tournament...dunno why I've had this concept of it ?.....
Anyways:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_8504853,00.html