France vs Afrique du Sud

[Charles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (stormer2010 @ Nov 7 2009, 08:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Keeping the pressure on France should see us through. Just worried that a game with lots of scrums will see the pressure tranfered to the Bokke. Key ould be for Bokke to play only in France's half and that is here we need Frans Steyn or Riaan Viljoen at the; the boomboots.

In effect we should just keep kicking for the corner and no-one better than Matfield to put the line-out under pressure. Attritious, constricting and frustrating stuff but I love it.

Damn, this is going to be a long week.[/b]

Yep, that's the game plan for SA. I hope we can stand up in the forwards and somehow prevent you from playing the territory. Also if you kick you better kick to touch because Medard has a good boot on him and he is very good at counterattacking. He is also prone to the occasional brainfart but we'll see.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Good point for us the match is in Toulouse (would even have prefered a swap with Marseille and a local Toulon fighting spirit, TLS should have been perfect to meet NZ), and supporting audience will certainly be more noisy than in Stade de France, I expect it to help Les Bleus to enter quickly in the match, especially the forwards in the first decisive scrums.

 

[Charles]

Ouedraogo is out injured, possibly for the 3 tests. That sucks.

 

[Steve-o]

On the back of Friday's defeat, the Boks are very much the underdogs for this game.

 

[darwin_23]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ Nov 9 2009, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

On the back of Friday's defeat, the Boks are very much the underdogs for this game.[/b]

I don't think Fridays game has any relevance to this game - two entirely different teams will be involved on Saturday (with the exception of a few Bok reserves). The Bok's should still be big favorites based on there performances this year.

 

[Charles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ Nov 9 2009, 12:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

On the back of Friday's defeat, the Boks are very much the underdogs for this game.[/b]

Nice try but no, you are still World Champs, Tri-Nations holders, S14 holders, N 1 in the rankings, 7's champions and all that jazz. So we are the underdogs.

 

[Steve-o]

Ok i was being a bit dramatic with that statement but the Boks and SA fans have huge respect for France. They have long been considered the best team up north by many. i seriously can't see them as underdogs with home advantage. If anything it's 50/50.

 

[Nickdnz]

More like 65/35 to SA in my opinion.

 

[munross]

For some strange reason(maybe its because this game will be played on friday the 13th) I predict that this game will end up as a draw, 26 all.

 

[Charles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Intercept King JdV @ Nov 9 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

For some strange reason(maybe its because this game will be played on friday the 13th) I predict that this game will end up as a draw, 26 all.[/b]

We drew 30-30 in 2005 in SA.

 

[erwanseb]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Charles @ Nov 9 2009, 01:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Intercept King JdV @ Nov 9 2009, 07:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For some strange reason(maybe its because this game will be played on friday the 13th) I predict that this game will end up as a draw, 26 all.[/b]

We drew 30-30 in 2005 in SA.
[/b][/quote]

A draw could be on the card, there is a very odd number of draws between the two countries, odd in the sense the number of draws is much higher that usual probability for rugby.

Played 36 SA won 20 (55.56%) France Won 10 (27.78%) Draw 6 (16.67%)

Since 2001, played 8
France Won 5 SA Won 2 Draw 1

Recent results favor France but SA will definetly be favourite for this one given their oustanding season.

 

[thomas]

Starting XV:

1: Fabien Barcella (Biarritz)

2: William Servat (Stade Toulousain)

3: Nicolas Mas (Perpignan)

4: Lionel Nallet (Racing Metro 92)

5: Romain Millo-Chluski (Stade Toulousain)

6: Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain, cap.)

7: Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

8: Louis Picamoles (Stade Toulousain)

9: Julien Dupuy (Stade Français)

10: François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier)

11: Cedric Heymans (Stade Toulousain)

12: Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan)

13: Yann David (Stade Toulousain)

14: Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain)

15: Damien Traille (Biarritz)

Bench:


Dimitri Szarzewki (Stade Français), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Français), Sébastien Chabal (Racing Metro 92), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Morgan Parra (Clermont), David Marty (USAP), Maxime Meda rd (Stade Toulousain), Thomas Domingo (Clermont).





big surprise in midfield, I don't think David and Mermoz have ever played together, have they ?

I've never been really convinced by Traille playing at fullback, he plays his best rugby as no.12 or no.13... we seemed to have found the perfect and much needed fb in Médard.... weird choice, kicking power isn't everything...

Great overall pack though, can't do much better than those 8 players, if it's not enough to counter the Boks, then... well I guess, we're powerless

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (thomas @ Nov 9 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

we seemed to have found the perfect and much needed fb in Médard.... weird choice, kicking power isn't everything...[/b]

It is a huge part of South Africa's game. Could be a clever move putting Traille back there.

Servat at #2 though?

 

[stormer2010]

Not too far off the mark. Although I would have thought that Dusuatoir getting the nod as captain as a signal that Nallet is losing ground. We will struggle in the scrums but I have to say I am glad we on't be facing Meddard. I'm sure our defences can handle Traille and depending on who we pick for full back, I am sure we can still win a kicking based game. Also glad Ouadrego on't be pestering us; our forwards deal better with big guys than the agile ones.

Strange how injury in our own camp favours us; Ralepelle and Steenkamp get injured and the better players in du Preez and Strauss gets called in. I'm starting to get more confident as the days pass.

I thought David and Mermoz would be playing the other way around?

 

[stormer2010]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Nov 9 2009, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (thomas @ Nov 9 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

we seemed to have found the perfect and much needed fb in Médard.... weird choice, kicking power isn't everything...[/b]

It is a huge part of South Africa's game. Could be a clever move putting Traille back there.

Servat at #2 though?
[/b][/quote]

The worst thing France can do is adapt to face SA and be overly tactical. I may be too simple but I think tactics are overrated and that the team ho ant the win the most and play their own game the most clinically usually comes out the victor. 15 men is 15 men and with France picking Traille I think it is a sign they are focussing on the Boks rather than backing themselves and its going to put too many shackles on their players. Just my opinion.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (stormer2010 @ Nov 9 2009, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Nov 9 2009, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (thomas @ Nov 9 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

we seemed to have found the perfect and much needed fb in Médard.... weird choice, kicking power isn't everything...[/b]

It is a huge part of South Africa's game. Could be a clever move putting Traille back there.

Servat at #2 though?
[/b][/quote]

The worst thing France can do is adapt to face SA and be overly tactical. I may be too simple but I think tactics are overrated and that the team ho ant the win the most and play their own game the most clinically usually comes out the victor. 15 men is 15 men and with France picking Traille I think it is a sign they are focussing on the Boks rather than backing themselves and its going to put too many shackles on their players. Just my opinion.
[/b][/quote]

No, I think the selection of that back 3 suggests a very offensive game. Big pack to get momentum and back to a very slick backline.

If they were trying to counter the South African game I think they would have tried to tactical kick there way there. Especially with the possibility of Pienaar back there.

I looks to me like they're playing a French game of "run it at 'em" or as they say in France 'voila, qui peu pa, d'air sur la Terre"

 

[wertas]

Traille is a big man and maybe France will attack South Africa midfield and SA probably will have the same problem as they had dealing with Jamie Roberts during Lions series. Fouries defence is very questionable. Traille is skilfull and good offloader. Also I expect a lot from Mermoz.

 

[elgringoborracho]

New French jersey on this commercial. I love it

http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=FR...=shop,men_rugby

 

[thomas]

finally, they are coming back to the basics, blue top, white shorts, red socks...
looks great... really...

 

[munross]

That is a very nice looking new French jersey, but it won't look so pretty anymore when Bakkies Botha gets his big hands on it .

So I take it that this game will be played with the "23rd player on the bench being a front-rower rule" seeing as there are 8 players on the bench for the French?