IRB Women's World Cup 2014

[gaston le gaff]

LOL! Why does an analytical observation that criticises elements of France have to be whinging? You guys actually asked me to expand on it then moan at me that i'm having a pop at the French. Come on Gaston that's a bit unfair.

Why can't you also focus on the positive things i said about France?

Regardless, France don't have the hardest pool at all, Wales and SA are not strong sides and never have been - if anything the toughest pool is the NZ/USA/Ireland pool all are big sides with history in this cup and are capable of beating each other.

Waving the defence thing around isn't really proof of anything, Australia haven't conceded a try against the same teams, and England have only conceded one consolation try against Spain, Canada only 2 and so on... all the big teams have good records against the small teams - but lets see how all these teams do against better opposition who have big powerful direct running midfields and back threes that are explosive.

Also remember once we hit the Semi's teams wont' be able to bully the opposition forwards in the same way they can the minnow teams.

Firstly i never asked you for anything and yes you have had a sutle pop as you so call in previous posts, but that is you right, i am quite capable of doing my own observations i just disagree with some of your points which i can say, without this being unfair, the positive things what you said i see all season, we have 7 MHR girls in the squad plus Gael is the Capt and i know all these girls personnally; know their strenghs and weakness.
They are 6 Nations champions and Montpellier French Champions both girls teams, which obviously does not include the SH sides, but that was their last games at International level which seems strange that they are going to have trouble later in the comp, which you did say in a pevious post a while back. As we all know when it gets to the knockout stage its one game lasts 80mins and anything can happen remember a certain France v England in this past 6 Nations, France got luck going their way and they still won. Rugby is not all about bullying the opposition with big forwards, you should know that as a coach, precise clean ball, well developed forward cohesion, this enhances fast back movements plus a good defence will always come out above bullying tactics, France play to their strenghs and whatever the opposition is, they will find the home Nation difficult to deal with plus the later stages the public will be behind them in mass.

 

[FrenchFan]

hey you 2 stop fighting over the girls ;-)))

some of the French girls in the forward look big I mean tall and built, can't tell what height exactly from the video. Good standard of refereing for amateur rugby.
some tasty looking babes as well....ok I'm signed. Will ditch my U9 & U8 boys and go with the girls...only kidding

 

[goodNumber10]

Firstly i never asked you for anything

yes, you did...

so what's so obviously a French weakness on our women's squad ?

some of the girls are using pink lipstick instead of red but other than that, it all looks pretty solid to me, in more ways than one.

see?

i am quite capable of doing my own observations i just disagree with some of your points which i can say, without this being unfair,

Yes, but saying i'm just whinging and making up my observations IS a bit unfair.

I'm making an observation as i would about any team, not criticising. I could do the exact same process for any of the teams in the competition, it's just easier to do it for the big teams because there is more footage to base those observations on, and backed it up with observational evidence from the 6 Nations when challenged on it... no one else has presented anything other than anecdotal evidence to counteract my points.

the positive things what you said i see all season, we have 7 MHR girls in the squad plus Gael is the Capt and i know all these girls personnally; know their strenghs and weakness.

That doesn't change, or make my points redundant.

strange that they are going to have trouble later in the comp, which you did say in a pevious post a while back.

pretty sure I didn't, i said they won't bully teams so easily and said i think SA showed a way to beat them.

As we all know when it gets to the knockout stage its one game lasts 80mins and anything can happen remember a certain France v England in this past 6 Nations, France got luck going their way and they still won. Rugby is not all about bullying the opposition with big forwards, you should know that as a coach, precise clean ball, well developed forward cohesion, this enhances fast back movements plus a good defence will always come out above bullying tactics, France play to their strengths and whatever the opposition is, they will find the home Nation difficult to deal with plus the later stages the public will be behind them in mass.

Don't disagree with that at all, but it's nothing to do with the points i was making.

Don't want to fall out about this Gaston as i have tons of respect for you. I'm not criticising the French, because they are the French, the discussion was revolving around how strong they were and i made a point about the back three being weak and how a stronger team could exploit that... and i stand behind that.


***EDIT: i dunno, maybe i'm being a bit oversensitive because of certain people lately. If sorry, not trying to provoke arguments, just would like to see some reasoning behind why it is you think my points are wrong.

 

[goodNumber10]

Thompson is out for England due to injury, replaced by Brennan, shame for Thompson she looked shapr against Samoa:

http://www.rfu.com/news/2014/august...rce=Social&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=2014

 

[gaston le gaff]

Nobody is falling out!!! and i read most of your posts but now and again we have different opinions, but you should read a little more between the lines, Frances weakness and lipstick comparisons does not need a full observation of playing tactics its a little humour no more no less. Its a lot easier talking about the girls when you know them personally. The back 3 i find not weak and the fullback had a very good attacking game most wingers are not the the best defenders even the Fijians are not great defenders, and even the few knockon's are not really a sign of weakness, i admit there were a few mistakes but i have seen that at the highest level when there is a margin of 50 pts, and the concentration starts to lapse the game was won with the bonus point at half time.
As you mentioned the English made 10 changes and this was a 2nd string team, the French also made 10 changes or there abouts, so do they constitute a second string team or not, and the SA's show how to beat what was on the park, which i do believe was 2nd string team ( your words) so in all truth the opposition have only seen the full French team play once, against Wales which was a 26pts win + bonus point, and not 10pts as you mentioned
The Irish girls defended well for the last 10 mins and hung on by the skin of their teeth but won, they should little attack but defended like heros and came out winners of course it was a shock, but the points went to them and not New Zealand, which just shows with the bit between the teeth results can be found from deep inside, and who ever finishes in the last 4 they will all be trying to get that supreme prize as you have to remember the girls often only get one shot at it, babies, weddings and some even careers etc etc. I prefere the word discussion and not augument and as i said before nobody is falling out here, surely not over a bunch of testeroned girlies who do know how to play rugby.!!!!!!

 

[goodNumber10]

Nobody is falling out!!! and i read most of your posts but now and again we have different opinions, but you should read a little more between the lines, Frances weakness and lipstick comparisons does not need a full observation of playing tactics its a little humour no more no less. Its a lot easier talking about the girls when you know them personally. The back 3 i find not weak and the fullback had a very good attacking game most wingers are not the the best defenders even the Fijians are not great defenders, and even the few knockon's are not really a sign of weakness, i admit there were a few mistakes but i have seen that at the highest level when there is a margin of 50 pts, and the concentration starts to lapse the game was won with the bonus point at half time.
As you mentioned the English made 10 changes and this was a 2nd string team, the French also made 10 changes or there abouts, so do they constitute a second string team or not, and the SA's show how to beat what was on the park, which i do believe was 2nd string team ( your words) so in all truth the opposition have only seen the full French team play once, against Wales which was a 26pts win + bonus point, and not 10pts as you mentioned
The Irish girls defended well for the last 10 mins and hung on by the skin of their teeth but won, they should little attack but defended like heros and came out winners of course it was a shock, but the points went to them and not New Zealand, which just shows with the bit between the teeth results can be found from deep inside, and who ever finishes in the last 4 they will all be trying to get that supreme prize as you have to remember the girls often only get one shot at it, babies, weddings and some even careers etc etc. I prefere the word discussion and not augument and as i said before nobody is falling out here, surely not over a bunch of testeroned girlies who do know how to play rugby.!!!!!!

haha!

Fair points, and yes I'd agree the France side were a 2nd String team. This is why i used the 6Nations to show my point as the back three were different in both games except for Grassineau on the right, and i wanted to illustrate i thought all the back three players in the squad were not solid defensively - i just wanted to show i think it's a weakness that runs through the squad.

I'm not saying France aren't bad, or weak I think they are likely to make the final. I just think that's something that i'd ask my players to look to exploit.

 

[Big Ewis]

You guys actually asked me to expand on it then moan at me that i'm having a pop at the French.

excuse me, no, careful with what you say there. I didn't ask and then moan, I was clearly joking and each time you see me use "rosbif" I'm really 100% kidding around, no sucker-punch hidden in there.
And what you're saying about other teams not conceding tries isn't the question, gaston didn't say other teams weren't good too, he's focusing on the sole fact *France haven't conceded tries* so far, and granted Wales and S.A. were both sloppy on attack, but still. That's 160minutes against pro teams without a conceded try, and France really has shown fantastic defense and has resisted the more difficult times under pressure during those games, so I do give them credit for that and do take that as an inherent quality for the rest of the way, Godspeed to those Bleues btw.

FrenchFan: j'fais pas mon ptit bourj mais, t'as Eurosport pour mater ? Sinon jte file un lien.

And oh yes, watching les Bleues this August, there's been some downright French Flair. Literally, French Flair, nothing short of it.
Check out the women's stats (and measurements...) here FrenchFan:
http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2014/france_feminines_coupe_du_monde

And yeah, cut if out guys...come on, I mean no sexism here, but over the Women's World Cup thread ? oops...no need for all that, c'moooooon...

 

[goodNumber10]

I thought Agricole played for Bobigny, seems she doesn't at all.

Those press shots are classic...

 

[gaston le gaff]

Never trust the press I work with them every week and have never trusted them, a lesson to be learned play the 3 monkies and you,'ll be fine

 

[Big Ewis]

just watched some of the 6N video you posted GN10. France played well, but I saw that huge mistake from our 15, England kicks behind us, our 15 makes contact with the ball but can't control, goes into touch, English touch within our 22...luckily England botches their lineout.
But what a maul, and what a scrum. France has the best pack in world Rugby I'm sure, no ? They absolutely bully England, and England I'm sure have a good pack themselves and are the 2nd best nation.
Our penalty kicking is just a problem though. Simply.

 

[Big Ewis]

Never trust the press I work with them every week and have never trusted them, a lesson to be learned play the 3 monkies and you,'ll be fine

That is probably true, but even wiser, gaston, is the following less known adage: never press the trust. If you press it, it goes loose.

 

[gaston le gaff]

I shall take these wise words onboard my friend, only when you die does knowledge and advice become obsolete....!!!!!!!!!!..........!!!!!!!!!!!!..........!!!!!!!!!!!!nice.

 

[Kickitoverfor3]

I watched the Ireland / NZ game. Brilliant I thought, and a great advert for womens rugby. Well done to the Irish; worked so hard and kept NZ at bay. Makes for some interesting final group games.
Loving watching the World Cup!!

 

[FrenchFan]

excuse me, no, careful with what you say there. I didn't ask and then moan, I was clearly joking and each time you see me use "rosbif" I'm really 100% kidding around, no sucker-punch hidden in there.
And what you're saying about other teams not conceding tries isn't the question, gaston didn't say other teams weren't good too, he's focusing on the sole fact *France haven't conceded tries* so far, and granted Wales and S.A. were both sloppy on attack, but still. That's 160minutes against pro teams without a conceded try, and France really has shown fantastic defense and has resisted the more difficult times under pressure during those games, so I do give them credit for that and do take that as an inherent quality for the rest of the way, Godspeed to those Bleues btw.

FrenchFan: j'fais pas mon ptit bourj mais, t'as Eurosport pour mater ? Sinon jte file un lien.

And oh yes, watching les Bleues this August, there's been some downright French Flair. Literally, French Flair, nothing short of it.
Check out the women's stats (and measurements...) here FrenchFan:
http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2014/france_feminines_coupe_du_monde

And yeah, cut if out guys...come on, I mean no sexism here, but over the Women's World Cup thread ? oops...no need for all that, c'moooooon...

ah ah BE you skneaky devil, you must have read my ehm 'enquiring about female rugby' mind...

I was just busy drooling over the profile of some of the girls in that link, Assa Koita is 100Kg. holy krap. When i commented some of the French forwards look big I didn't think they were that big. And what she likes most are collisions and tackling weheee

PS yeah send that link merci

 

[Big Ewis]

Feeling up for it, FrenchFan ?? This ain't a plat de résistance or anything, it's an all-you-can-eat buffet. Man, you gotta be on form before attacking that at the end of the date, whewwww...

 

[FrenchFan]

no problem I'm up for it so to speak I defintily like the girl on the right, must be Assa the big 2nd row 100Kg. Some piece of work. That's my size. You can have her little sister on the left...

 

[Big Ewis]

hahah ! That's Marion Lièvre on the left, our winger. She looks about the size of one of Koita's arm...
Next match in a couple of days, next up, our most serious opponent so far: the Walla-Ladies.

 

[Big Ewis]

Sandrine Agricole back at 10, Lièvre back on the wing. NDiaye still our monster no.8, and highly sexually solicited she-***an Assa Koita still in our second row there. I'm going to miss this unfortunately, but it's at 20:45 tomorrow French time.

 

[goodNumber10]

Important day in the World Cup, with every pool having an important game, some two, in fact only Wales vs South Africa doesn't effect the seedings for the semi finals..

Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand and USA all have a shot of making the four semi-final spots.

If England win they will be top seeds in the semi final and pull either Canada or New Zealand. France need a draw or more to take the second semi final spot, Australia need a win. Ireland need a win for the third semi and Canada need a bonus point win to be top seeds but if they win they will take England's semi final spot and England will get the best runner up on bonus points and points difference.

Tomorrows games:

09/08 - 13:00 Ireland - Kazakhstan
09/08 - 15:00 Spain - Samoa
09/08 - 15:45 England - Canada
09/08 - 17:00 Wales - South Africa
09/08 - 18:00 New Zealand - USA
09/08 - 20:45 Australia - France

England Team for tomorrow:
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol)
14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
12 Rachael Burford (Thurrock)
11 Claire Allan (Richmond)
10 Ceri Large (Worcester)
9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
2 Emma Croker (Richmond)
3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond)
5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6 Heather Fisher (Worcester)
7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield, captain)

Replacements

16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17 Laura Keates (Worcester)
18 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps)
19 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)
20 La Toya Mason (Wasps)
21 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
22 Kay Wilson (Bristol)

Gary Street has pulled a big surprise leaving captain Katy Mclean on the bench and Ceri Large starts at 10 - they are going to attack, and attack the Canadian midfield physically.

Will be an interesting game, no game of the day really as so much riding on so many of them, but the three i'm most interested in are, England vs Canada, France Australia and USA vs NZ.

 

[Big Ewis]

yep, definitely the biggest Day so far in this WC. Shieet just got rell, knowmsyn..