RWC: All Blacks - France (24-09-2011, 15:30)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Eden Park, Auckland (24-09-2011, 15:30)

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRE)
Touch Judge: George Clancy (IRE)
Touch Judge: Carlo Damasco (ITA)
TV match official: Graham Hughes (ENG)
​

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] All Blacks [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] France [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Israel Dagg [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Damian Traille [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Cory Jane [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Vincent Clerc [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Conrad Smith [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Aurélien Rougerie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ma'a Nonu [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Maxime Mermox [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Richard Kahui [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Maxime Médard [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Dan Carter [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Morgan Parra [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Piri Weepu [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Dimitri Yachvili [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Adam Thomson [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Louis Picamoles [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Richie McCaw [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Julien Bonnaire [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jerome Kaino [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Thierry Dusautoir [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sam Whitelock [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Lionel Nallet [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Brad Thorn [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Pascal Pape [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Owen Franks [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Luc Ducalcon [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Keven Mealamu [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Dimitri Szarzewski [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tony Woodcock [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Jean-Baptiste Poux [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrew Hore [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] William Servat [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ben Franks [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Fabian Barcella [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ali Williams [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Julien Pierre [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Anthony Boric [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Imanol Harinordoquy [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andy Ellis [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Francois Trinh-Duc [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Colin Slade [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Fabrice Estebanez [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sonny Bill Williams [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Cédric Heymans [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[rusty_lock]

I'm picking the All Blacks. I just can't decide by how much.

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

NZ will win, then lose to Aus in semi final, then Aus vs England final with Aus kicking ass like they did in the tri-nations. scrum all fixed and beat england 50-0.... then I wake up, with my hand on my pants remembering HOW CRAP AUSSIES ARE NOW AT RUGBY, fuking lost to IRELAND!!! ****!!!!

Good luck to AB vs France!!!

 

[Black Heart]

27 - 15 To the All Blacks.

 

[Muzzy]

France showed some beautiful set plays from their back line against Canada, they had some really deceptive plays especially the cross kick they did, I hope NZ get tested in this game coz it will be good for us in the finals

 

[elgringoborracho]

I expect a close and physical game. Neither team will want to lose this one, contrary to what some media are saying. I really hope France, like Ireland, step up a gear in this big game. NZ by less than 7.

My french starting XV:

Poux - Szarzewski - Ducalcon
Nallet - Papé
Dusautoir - Picamoles - Bonnaire
Parra - Trinh Duc
Médard - Mermoz - Rougerie (c) - Clerc
Heymans

 

[Sneaki]

Should be a great game, looking forward to seeing who they pick, especially in the always intriguing back three. I hope Jane gets another go at 14, getting subbed straight after half time was a bit rough, play just didn't really go his way last week though he probably could have done better on that kick through where he tried to hack it ahead instead of picking it up. In any case I don't think Toeava has played well enough to justify being picked ahead of him, they could potentially put Dagg on the right and Muliaina at fullback but they seem to see Dagg as a FB primarily so I'd be surprised to see that happen at this stage.

I think they'll put SBW on the bench to see him get a run against a top side in a big game, he was impressive against Japan off the bench but that counts for nothing when it comes to the crunch games in this tournament. And on that note I think that's why they're more likely to give Dagg a run against tough opposition, rather than Muliaina who has more than enough experience to slot straight back into the top XV next week if Dagg plays poorly.

The rest of the backline picks itself I think, Nonu and Smith should start every game from now on, and who start's out of Cowan/Weepu is anyone's guess really but I think Weepu will get a go this week as Cowan started the first two WC games.

The locks are tricky, I think the Williams/Thorn combo is likely to play despite Williams being pretty dire so far, it's now or never for him really (I wouldn't pick him, but the coaches are probably going to be a lot more patient than me). Whitelock hasn't really done a lot more and I would've though this is another chance to give Boric a decent run, but I doubt he'll start even though the Thorn/Boric combination looks the best to me on paper, maybe they'll get a chance against Canada.

Here's the 22 I'm expecting anyway, who starts out of Thomson/Vito and who is on the bench out of B Franks/Afoa I'm not really sure on:

15. Dagg
14. Jane
13. Smith
12. Nonu
11. Kahui
10. Carter
9. Weepu
8. Thomson
7. McCaw
6. Kaino
5. Williams
4. Thorn
3. O. Franks
2. Mealamu
1. Woodcock

22. SBW
21. Slade
20. Cowan
19. Vito
18. Boric
17. Afoa
16. Hore

 

[TRF_heineken]

Based on previous world cups, I would like the French to win, but playing against NZ in NZ is another story... France was unconvincing vs Canada, and I would think that the All Blacks would be blasting through guns a blazing!

NZ by 15... but for the Boks sake, go France!!

 

[lance2010]

Based on previous world cups, I would like the French to win, but playing against NZ in NZ is another story... France was unconvincing vs Canada, and I would think that the All Blacks would be blasting through guns a blazing!

NZ by 15... but for the Boks sake, go France!!

AB's could throw this game and finish 2nd in their pool and go through the N.H teams on the other side of the draw and avoid Aussie,SA,France....But the AB's will never think like this.

 

[james5000]

Should be a great game, looking forward to seeing who they pick, especially in the always intriguing back three. I hope Jane gets another go at 14, getting subbed straight after half time was a bit rough, play just didn't really go his way last week though he probably could have done better on that kick through where he tried to hack it ahead instead of picking it up. In any case I don't think Toeava has played well enough to justify being picked ahead of him, they could potentially put Dagg on the right and Muliaina at fullback but they seem to see Dagg as a FB primarily so I'd be surprised to see that happen at this stage.

I think they'll put SBW on the bench to see him get a run against a top side in a big game, he was impressive against Japan off the bench but that counts for nothing when it comes to the crunch games in this tournament. And on that note I think that's why they're more likely to give Dagg a run against tough opposition, rather than Muliaina who has more than enough experience to slot straight back into the top XV next week if Dagg plays poorly.

The rest of the backline picks itself I think, Nonu and Smith should start every game from now on, and who start's out of Cowan/Weepu is anyone's guess really but I think Weepu will get a go this week as Cowan started the first two WC games.

The locks are tricky, I think the Williams/Thorn combo is likely to play despite Williams being pretty dire so far, it's now or never for him really (I wouldn't pick him, but the coaches are probably going to be a lot more patient than me). Whitelock hasn't really done a lot more and I would've though this is another chance to give Boric a decent run, but I doubt he'll start even though the Thorn/Boric combination looks the best to me on paper, maybe they'll get a chance against Canada.

Here's the 22 I'm expecting anyway, who starts out of Thomson/Vito and who is on the bench out of B Franks/Afoa I'm not really sure on:

15. Dagg
14. Jane
13. Smith
12. Nonu
11. Kahui
10. Carter
9. Weepu
8. Thomson
7. McCaw
6. Kaino
5. Williams
4. Thorn
3. O. Franks
2. Mealamu
1. Woodcock

22. SBW
21. Slade
20. Cowan
19. Vito
18. Boric
17. Afoa
16. Hore

Sounds pretty logical but i'm calling Toeava over Jane, not because i want it but Henry likes a good Toeava BJ

 

[TRF_heineken]

AB's could throw this game and finish 2nd in their pool and go through the N.H teams on the other side of the draw and avoid Aussie,SA,France....But the AB's will never think like this.

Yeah well if they do, then the Boks might follow in their footsteps and do the same vs Samoa...

although i don't think any team would do that... and no team who ever won the world cup lost a game during that tournament... and histroy has a way to repeat itself...

 

[UilamOsa]

AB's to Smash France. No offense french supporters.

I don't think this French team have the heart that the previous teams had. I think Lievremont has done them a disservice and they've just added to it by their performances during and prior to the World Cup.

Richies Back. DC's Back. They'll be looking to put a nail in this Choker coffin, and I feel sorry for anyone standing in their way. Boks included.

It'll be messy, but it'll be a black out. 39-15.



ps. I'm picking the Boks will smash the Aussies come QF
pps. If you want to be the best - you've got to beat the best.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Yeah well if they do, then the Boks might follow in their footsteps and do the same vs Samoa...

although i don't think any team would do that... and no team who ever won the world cup lost a game during that tournament... and histroy has a way to repeat itself...

Ah...what about the last World Cup when New Zealand lost to France and went on to....oh yeah, sorry. Good point.

 

[Icemn]

AB's to Smash France. No offense french supporters.

I don't think this French team have the heart that the previous teams had. I think Lievremont has done them a disservice and they've just added to it by their performances during and prior to the World Cup.

Richies Back. DC's Back. They'll be looking to put a nail in this Choker coffin, and I feel sorry for anyone standing in their way. Boks included.

It'll be messy, but it'll be a black out. 39-15.



ps. I'm picking the Boks will smash the Aussies come QF
pps. If you want to be the best - you've got to beat the best.

i would love to agree with you.. BUT.. the Ab have done it again... these past games they have mixed and rotated their players again breaking momentum etc so the team playing against france would have to build from scratch again... this has been the casue of NZ downfall in prev RWC and it will prob be the casue thsi time aswell... esp with the backline, where the forwards have been more static over the past weeks... but the backline is NZ most potent weapon... so i feel it will be a close game NZ might just win it... but i'm not sure.... BUT if NZ had played both prev games with the same players... nobody would stop them... that is why i cant understand Henry had the whole 3N to experiment and get combinations right for the WC... but he didn't use it then and there.. what he did i don't know but it cost us the 3N... now he is doing it in the WC and it will cost NZ again... i still feel Aus is going to win this...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

NZ by 18.

 

[Logorrhea]

France are capable of pulling a performance out of the hat, but it would be an exception rather then the rule. Given the current string of performances, the grumblings from within the camp, and the open criticism from the coach, things dont seem to be too rosy.

I can see the French pack causing the ABs all sorts of problems to be honest, so it should be close, but I think the ABs will still be a score or two to the good.

If France put out a reserve team, i'll be pretty disgusted with them to be honest.

 

[Macsen]

France to lose this game 32-3 before reaching the final and breaking NZ hearts 43-31. That's the French way of doing things!

OR

France to win this game 24-21 before losing 18-5 against Argentina in the QFs. That is also the French way of doing things.

 

[terry]

Hi All,

just letting you know I cannot go to the game NZ-FR and my tickets (2x cat.B) are up for grabs, not looking to make any profit on these, just getting the money back as I'll have to follow the game on tv with my 5 week new born daughter crying on my laps. Cheers...............BTW, I reckon the AB will go for the kill as the French team needs drama to pull out a miracle...pool game is way to early for that.

 

[terry]

Hi All,

just letting you know I cannot go to the game NZ-FR.
My tickets ,2x cat.B, are up for grabs, not looking to make any profit on these, just getting the money back as I'll have to follow the game on tv with my 5 week new born daughter crying on my laps.
Cheers

BTW, I reckon the AB will go for the kill as the French team needs drama to pull out a miracle...pool game is way to early for that...but I wouldn't write them off to soon...

 

[thomasfaller]

Marc Lièvremont is starting to get bored of journalists asking him whether his team is gonna play the ABs seriously or not given the "Ireland situation"
I don't know if France is going to win that one or even if they'll be somehow competitive but I'm sure that the journalists' stupid question about France playing "or not" will motivate the players and France is never better than when they're the "totally underestimated underdog sparing-team"
The last I heard kiwi fans saying that France did not stand a chance of winning, it was in Twickenham in 1999...