RWC 2011: THE FINAL!!! France vs. New Zealand

[TRF_Olyy]

Lol?! Not to drop a bombshell on you but your French, as far as I know (this is in Europe though) you're more hated than us, by quite some way.

Maybe in opposite land?
England is everyones least favourite 6N team - I always thought France was fairly well liked

 

[djeudo]

Of course NZ are favorites. They have the best team in this tournament (and not only during this tournament). But one thing is to take into account for this final, maybe the most important one in rugby : the agressivity. If french players are in a good shape, slept well the previous night, if France begins his match very well, with lot of agressivity, with a very strong scrum and with 5 forwards at their best, they will have their chance to win. I think it's the only way for France to win this match, making the doubt in NZ's head. It is a final, a special day, and NZ are human and maybe they will think too mutch during this match. So the conditions for France to win this match are very simple : by scoring first, by playing in ZL camp, by making lot of pressure as soon the match begins, by making the scrum and rucks the most important statements, and by playing with maximum agressivity like they did against England during the first period, they will have their chance. And I think it is what Nzealanders fear at the higher level because they know that France is capable of doing this stuff. They have the players and the mentality to do that. I hope it will be a great match

 

[JW.]

Maybe in opposite land?
England is everyones least favourite 6N team - I always thought France was fairly well liked

Oh not in Rugby terms just in general. Over here in Holland no one loves the English but they hate the French. Same goes for most Euro countries.

In the 6nations thats obvious, Wales/Ireland/Scotland have an obvious hate for us due to history seeing we ruled them as do the French. As for the Italians don't think they hate us? Could well do anyways .

and by playing with maximum agressivity like they did against England during the first period, they will have their chance.

Djeudo. If France even get the ball like they did against England and then play like they did against England, NZ aren't going to just going to let you guys score tries and be crap, like England .

I really can't see France pulling this off, even if they have there magical French moment (which I highly doubt, seeing this group hasen't got enough quality) that won't be enough to beat NZ, they are quality now. They can play different styles of Rugby as a team, and if the French play like they did against England or Wales they could get 20 points but on them in the first half.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Oh not in Rugby terms just in general. Over here in Holland no one loves the English but they hate the French. Same goes for most Euro countries.

In the 6nations thats obvious, Wales/Ireland/Scotland have an obvious hate for us due to history seeing we ruled them as do the French. As for the Italians don't think they hate us? Could well do anyways .


Djeudo. If France even get the ball like they did against England and then play like they did against England, NZ aren't going to just going to let you guys score tries and be crap, like England .

I really can't see France pulling this off, even if they have there magical French moment (which I highly doubt, seeing this group hasen't got enough quality) that won't be enough to beat NZ, they are quality now. They can play different styles of Rugby as a team, and if the French play like they did against England or Wales they could get 20 points but on them in the first half.

Just to throw in my 2 cents... In South Africa we hate the Poms the most... we call them "Soutpiele" in Afrikaans in english "saltcocks" because their one leg is in South Africa, one leg in england, and their dick in the ocean!

But this doesn't just apply to english speaking South Africans, it also applies to all Brits... actually, I think more so...

 

[JW.]

Just to throw in my 2 cents... In South Africa we hate the Poms the most... we call them "Soutpiele" in Afrikaans in english "saltcocks" because their one leg is in South Africa, one leg in england, and their dick in the ocean!

But this doesn't just apply to english speaking South Africans, it also applies to all Brits... actually, I think more so...

Boerenoorlog? If so its history again, which I find pathetic but oke .(If it's not history, you just dislike us ) You judge people on how they're now not how they were hundreds of years ago.

But this isn't about Rugby anymore .

NZ by 20.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Boereoorlog? If so its history again, which I find pathetic but oke .(If it's not history, you just dislike us ) You judge people on how they're now not how they were hundreds of years ago.

But this isn't about Rugby anymore .

NZ by 20.

Lol, actually it comes from those days... the hatred just remained... just like apartheid...

that being said, history is part of who we are, for instance, my grandfather comes from Den Haag in the Netherlands, during the 2nd World War he wanted to go work for his family on their ship, but they had too many workers, so he decided to start a new life in a new country far away from the war, so he basically had a choice between 2 ships... one came to South Africa, and the other one went to New Zealand... if he chose the other ship, I would've been a kiwi!

 

[elgringoborracho]

Oh not in Rugby terms just in general. Over here in Holland no one loves the English but they hate the French.

Doesn't prevent them from invading half of my country in the summer with their ugly caravans, refusing to speak a word of french even if they know some, and not buying a single thing in our stores. Beautiful girls, but no attempt to blend in at all.

I prefer the english, they usually appreciate good wine and are really fun to hang with after a few bottles.

Lol?! Not to drop a bombshell on you but your French, as far as I know (this is in Europe though) you're more hated than us, by quite some way.

Interesting point of view, I really thought it was the contrary. I definitely don't think there is "quite some way" between us. If anything we're equally hated as the two arrogant ex colonial empires.

 

[Jer1cho]

Most South Africans hate the English more. I for one hate the Irish the most out of the NH teams. I don't mind Wales, but hate Phillips and that piece of trash **** talking Gatland. Otherwise I quite like their team. No guesses for which country is hated more than any other by us though.

Most South Africans, apart from the identity crisis stricken Cape coloreds, have the French as their second favorite team.

 

[djeudo]

Djeudo. If France even get the ball like they did against England and then play like they did against England, NZ aren't going to just going to let you guys score tries and be crap, like England .

I didn't say that's what will happened but I said that's the conditions needed to win this final. Beeing very very very agressive, solid in the scrums, scoring first, and having faith in god

 

[Jer1cho]

having faith in god

Lol god the frenchman! Didn't New Zealand already claim Jesus is an All Black?

 

[JW.]

Hihi, a discussion about who's hated the most. We should open a thread .

About history you can't judge or just hate someone for what their nation did years ago. Alot of people in Holland still don't like the germans for WWII, but alot of people are able to but that aside and judge them on how they're... Fat and annoying j/k ;P.

If anything we're equally hated as the two arrogant ex colonial empires.

Indeed, just England seem to be hated more in Rugby because we used to ''have'' NZ,AUS, SA etc. hence why they play Rugby. For some things so long ago you can't help but feel proud of for others you hope people don't bring them up.

[littlebitofsarcasm]BTW see what France have done, they have diverted a RWC FINAL topic into history, thats why they shouldn't be in the final we should be talking about the game! Instead people aren't that interested [/littlebitofsarcasm]

 

[nickdnz]

Great thing about being in New Zealand. Outside rugby, no one really cares about us. "New Zealand aye...love Lord of the Rings..."

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I guess the sidetrips this thread is taking is the surest sign that having to wait a week is too much LOL.

I don't want to comment but thought it good to clear something up for my Afrikaner friends; people talk of the Anglo-Boer war but we (boere) called it the 'vryheidsoorlog' literally freedom war as we fought for and lost our independence. But the victors write the history books and it ended being called the Boer war and we even call it the Boereoorlog now which I find sad.


I have to agree that my second team behind the Springbokke is Argentina and in the NH France. I have a bit of a soft spot for Scotland (even though they are a bit of a bogey team for us) and Italy as well. Dispised in rugby terms; England and Aus.

 

[Blutch]

I guess the sidetrips this thread is taking is the surest sign that having to wait a week is too much LOL.

+1000

It's way to long, this is tuesday and I can't stop thinking about this game.

Whatever the results are I'll be happy if both teams play their best ! I mean come on guys, even if I'm french and desperatly want the cup in our hands, I'll be happy to see the AB winning at home in front of their fans.
There is nothing more beautiful than a team which win in front of its supporters.

For me it will be in any case a great moment of rugby ! If AB win we (non-Kiwi) will all regret not to be in NZ to party there !!!!

 

[Izzoard]

Just to throw in my 2 cents... In South Africa we hate the Poms the most... we call them "Soutpiele" in Afrikaans in english "saltcocks" because their one leg is in South Africa, one leg in england, and their dick in the ocean!

But this doesn't just apply to english speaking South Africans, it also applies to all Brits... actually, I think more so...

My Saffer buddy doesn't agree. He even finds the Spitting Image song "Never met a ncie South Efricen" funny - so you're not all cocks by all acounts...

And I thought we were called rood necks?

 

[Izzoard]

Lol, actually it comes from those days... the hatred just remained... just like apartheid...

that being said, history is part of who we are, for instance, my grandfather comes from Den Haag in the Netherlands, during the 2nd World War he wanted to go work for his family on their ship, but they had too many workers, so he decided to start a new life in a new country far away from the war, so he basically had a choice between 2 ships... one came to South Africa, and the other one went to New Zealand... if he chose the other ship, I would've been a kiwi!

It might have helped if he'd stay to fight the Nazi's - along with the Brits.... When we helped in the liberation of Europe...

 

[Izzoard]

Doesn't prevent them from invading half of my country in the summer with their ugly caravans, refusing to speak a word of french even if they know some, and not buying a single thing in our stores. Beautiful girls, but no attempt to blend in at all.

My ex is a Frenchie, we'd drive through France on hols and every time we passed a Dutch caravan, she'd should "Look at zem, ze don't even buy French food, zeer caravan's are full of food ze bring wiz zem". And it's true!

Saying that, I live in the NL and like the Dutchies.

 

[france]

I think there is something peculiar in the french culture that leads us to only play well in two precise situations:
1. if it leads us to be called heroes at the end of the game
2. if we have been super shitty the game before

It's an interesting theory (and you make quite a convincing case in its defense), but I think it leaves aside a crucial element that might make it irrelevant this weekend: it has never been tested in a RWC final. Point 1 would obviously have applied to the 1987 and 1999 finals, but definitely not point 2 (we played fantastic semis both those years).

From my point of view, leaving aside New Zealand's obvious superiority (so far...) in this tournament, there's a key factor that needs to be taken into account: France has never shown that it has what it takes (in terms of talent, guts, desire, etc.) to win a RWC. We have played three truly great games in RWC history (vs. Australia in 1987, vs. New Zealand in 1999 and 2007), but we've also had our share of sub-par performances, and most importantly we couldn't even make it competitive in the two finals we played: we were dominated and outclassed by both New Zealand in 1987 and Australia in 1999.

The counter argument is obvious: these are different times with different players and a different coach; and of course, following elgringo's logic, we should do a lot better this time around because there was no display of brilliance and panache in our semifinal this year (as opposed to 1987 and 1999).

Sure, why not? But I believe, perhaps a bit irrationally I'll be the first to admit, in the forces of history and tradition: we have a losing culture (yes, a bit harsh, but there's no other way to put it IMHO) in RWC that was started in 1987 and has continued throughout the years; and the circle of defeat will not be broken easily. Our soccer team did it in the 1998 WC, unexpectedly crushing favorites Brazil in the final, so maybe there's a parallel to be drawn here: could we possibly beat mighty New Zealand on Sunday? The pessimistic in me doesn't see a rugby equivalent of Jacquet and Zidane in our team this year; and worse, the fantastic "esprit de corps" we had from day one in the 1998 WC and that eventually lifted us to victory has been spotty at best (and I'm being charitable) in the 2011 RWC.

Let's face it, when it comes to RWC, we're a second-tier nation--arguably the best of all second-tier nations, but it's a giant step to rise to the level of the Australia / New Zealand / South Africa / England quartet; and a giant step, especially given what we have shown so far this time around, we are most likely not ready to take.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Great thing about being in New Zealand. Outside rugby, no one really cares about us. "New Zealand aye...love Lord of the Rings..."

Were you thanked in the 2004 Oscars ceremony?

 

[gingergenius]

most south africans i meet are nice, just lacking in a sense of humour...

Anyway, it's a fact of life that everyone hates the English and we love to be hated.

Australia would be in our place were it not for us being bigger ******** than they are.