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

[lance2010]

Go the warriors grand final next week oh yeah!!!

 

[ACT1NUP]

This team is crazy.

Hore can play like a fetcher, but I don't think he has the mobility to be a good option at 7. Sonny Bill Williams at 22 over Muliaina...? Talk of Mils not reaching 100 test caps is sad, but there is no doubt in my mind he can cover the utility spot considerably better than SBW who is realistically an out and out 2nd 5/8th being fit in where ever. Having both Ali Williams and Anthony Boric on the bench is an absolute joke! Boric is not a blindside flanker, but he is a better lock at the moment than Ali Williams who never really earned his spot. HOW HAS THOMSON EARNED A SPOT AT 8?!?!?! Victor Vito has been quiet, but better than Thomson and there is no good reason why either of the players should not be in the 22, considering they are backrowers and we have two locks.

Henry and co are f*cking losing the plot.

Ah we won the game and easily? I'd hate to see them get it right if this is them doing it wrong. On a side note go the WARRIORS!!! grand final baby.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

Agreed about the Warriors, even though this is the wrong thread for it

 

[ACT1NUP]

Back on topic, this was always going to be a hiding for the French. Pool match, Richie's 100th, easier path to final for the loser. They were never in it well before kickoff. Score flatters them a bit. Glad they never constructed any tries too, always pleasing. Definitely the ABs world cup to lose. Unless the Aussies find their mojo and find a goal kicker. Unlikely

 

[Muzzy]

even though france lost, i thought they played some beautiful rugby, they had some great back line moves and formations it was really beautiful to watch, but nz's defence was too good. i just hope NZ can keep up the intensity for the finals

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

This was a grudge match and no doubt about it. There was a lot of toughness that went unnoticed. The French still show themselves as a side that if they get 12 or more points in front, they could be cup winners. They don't threaten outside 10 -12 points behind however and their catch-up football is by no means what it once was. At least on tonight's evidence.

Still they have plenty to offer the tournament and may still yet meet us in a final, should we both get that far.

 

[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.

Almost Called it!!! (knew I should've played in the prediction pool) Stopped watching when the NZ warriors were on, game was over by then. I'm going to Sydney Babeee!!!! GF here I come.

Then AB's QF/SF & RWC Final. It's going to be an sad christmas without presents.

ps. Thomson - he's a good AB's player but he's not a great AB's player can't wait to get Read back. Jerome Kaino has become the new Jerry Collins.
pps. Also - was a decent effort by the French team for periods. There's potential there for improvement, just whether or not it can come before the finals. They may have to keep this team together for the rest of the RWC.

 

[Sam Owen]

I knew the All Blacks would win well, they are simply just too good at home.

France did well to keep the score line down. They started off well but I always knew once the All Blacks got the ball, theyd get it to where it counts.

 

[barthelemy]

Good Match to watch. Though I did not feel the 2 teams played at 100%...even if, as somebody noticed, lots of unoticed toughness certainly.

I do not think overall that AB smashed so much France. The difference has been done in 10 minutes in the first half with 3 tries in 10 minutes after Junior/awfull defensive mistakes (Big holes in the french defense from the 3rd row/Scrum half/ fly half...). It is due defenitly to the fact that Parra is not used to defend a 10 zone..and I think the third row did not "slide" (not the right word sorry) enough on these actions. When Trinh Duc came on, it has changed positively.

The weak french scrum on the first and part of second half is due to the fact that the french front row was not the good choice, too light. When servat and Barcella came on, it was not the same story.

The second Half is only 18-14 for the AB and I did not see any domination in the game from NZ during this second half. Overall, I did not think we have been utterly dominated by the blacks. I think, for example, that we have been more dominated in 2007 than today (but result are slightly different)...

For once, we have been far from being physically smashed, French players seemed even a bit better physically than blacks at the end...

Overall France has not been enough agressive to stop the blacks to play. but did they really want to be utterly aggressive ??

Do not get me wrong, AB were superior, as they always have been, no doubt about it. I think they are so clinical, no forward pass, no silly mistake and very nice attacking movement...I have been impressed by the black scrum, lots of improvement has been made on this...even if France Lost, it was a pleasure to see some nice rugby by the black and it will always be, big respect for them. But I would say that it wont defenitly be the same match in final...of course , if the 2 team reach the final

 

[shtove]

Jeez, what happened there? Looking like a great contest in the first ten minutes, then - blip - the ABs changed the channel.

Really impressed with Nonu and the lines being run in midfield. I thought that would be the weakest part of the AB game, but nuhuh. Apart from the usual stuff about Carter and McCaw, not much else to say.

Reservations for the ABs? Rolland allows turnovers, and I guess other refs have a different view for this tournament. Plus the ABs gave away 3 penalties close to the line before France's second try, so SA/Eng will be licking their lips over that small weakness. But that's about it.

French defence was a disaster. It's not just that the cover kept slipping tackles, but the first line was actually missing them altogether. Is it the players or the system? Either way, hard to see them improve in that area. It may just be that the ABs played with inhuman intensity and every defence is going to get shredded this way.

I thought these ABs were not as strong as in 2007. Wrong. It will be painful if they don't win the tournament.

 

[dangandan]

What a rout. Mermoz looked incredibly slow when making that intercept. I thought it was a backrower at first until i saw his jersey number and what on earth was he celebrating about. Conrad Smith was thinking the same thing i think when he had a few words with him after the try. Even though the All Blacks completely outclassed them i have a feeling France didn't even turn up. I don't even think it will bother them that much coming second in the pool but they should be worried they haven't strung together any signs of good form. Also Dagg paid back the coaches immensely with that performance. What a player.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Good black demo...

France not ridiculous on that one, and regret that obstruction on Parra after his kick and tackle in the air on Traille were not taken in account. This wouldn't have change the winner but given a more realistic final score.
Would like to see the same match in the final, with a full strength first line (Ducalcon really weak) and a classical 9-10 defense association. Don't know if NZ was 100% in the second half, but I saw signs of physical absence here.

Don't understand why, as the Kapa o Congo is accepted (with the dirty cutting throat motion), opposition is now not allowed to give answer. A team can launch a challenge but the other must stay quietly away...
If NZ want his tradition to be respected, wich is fully understandable, it must make it respectable (If I remember well, Kapa O Pongo was created after traditional Haka had been whistled by SA supporters in Tri Nations)

 

[callsign.springbok]

Good black demo...

France not ridiculous on that one, and regret that obstruction on Parra after his kick and tackle in the air on Traille were not taken in account. This wouldn't have change the winner but given a more realistic final score.
Would like to see the same match in the final, with a full strength first line (Ducalcon really weak) and a classical 9-10 defense association. Don't know if NZ was 100% in the second half, but I saw signs of physical absence here.

Don't understand why, as the Kapa o Congo is accepted (with the dirty cutting throat motion), opposition is now not allowed to give answer. A team can launch a challenge but the other must stay quietly away...
If NZ want his tradition to be respected, wich is fully understandable, it must make it respectable (If I remember well, Kapa O Pongo was created after traditional Haka had been whistled by SA supporters in Tri Nations)

You're right about the new haka. It was created for SA because they often stood up to the haka and walked towards them - not at all infringing on the 'performance' itself, just closing the distance. France have also walked towards it, I seem to remember Chabal doing it... anyway, the IRB have made a 10m rule - nobody is allowed within 10m of the song and dance!

I can imagine someone at Nz rugby union writing to their mates at the IRB like the parents of spoilt school children writing to their school, complaining that their little darlings had to do cross country in the drizzle and now they have the sniffles.

So if we want to be rugby supporters I guess we have to humour the kiwis, let them win 'their' world cup so they don't throw their toys out of the pram again. If SA have the 'honour and the privilege' of being NZ's opposition at 'their world cup' I hope they walk towards it. If they are impudent enough to go on and beat the All Blacks, no doubt the haka encroachment will go down with the food poisoning and Jauzion forward pass yarns the kiwis like to wheel out!

 

[Bokbe4k]

Well done France that was match fixing at its best, legally of course. Every one is singing NZ's praises yet I cant help feeling it is the French that are smiling.

 

[munstermuffin]

Only thing is the French are flaky even when they put strongest team out and this will be a bad move as their players who missed today will have badly missed the lack of a top level game going in to a QF.
And well I think they are possibly a team that needed this game because they were patchy against Japan, unconvincing and thankful to Clerc for getting a BP against Canada, bad today and well Tonga will want to have 1 cut off them before going home.

 

[elgringoborracho]

Well done France that was match fixing at its best, legally of course. Every one is singing NZ's praises yet I cant help feeling it is the French that are smiling.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I have the same feeling... Still i dread the English quarter final. We don't usually do well in those.

 

[Black Heart]

You're right about the new haka. It was created for SA because they often stood up to the haka and walked towards them - not at all infringing on the 'performance' itself, just closing the distance. France have also walked towards it, I seem to remember Chabal doing it... anyway, the IRB have made a 10m rule - nobody is allowed within 10m of the song and dance!

No it wasn't. It was actually written for the Lions Tour in 2005 but they never used it.

Don't understand why, as the Kapa o Congo is accepted (with the dirty cutting throat motion), opposition is now not allowed to give answer. A team can launch a challenge but the other must stay quietly away...
If NZ want his tradition to be respected, wich is fully understandable, it must make it respectable (If I remember well, Kapa O Pongo was created after traditional Haka had been whistled by SA supporters in Tri Nations)

The French were on New Zealand soil. The All Blacks can do all the throat slitting they like.

Haka is all about battle. It's never supposed to look pretty. Anyone who thinks a throat slitting gesture is over the top has never seen a real haka. Quite frankly, making a haka "respectable" for PR sake is actually doing dishonour to the haka itself and it shouldn't be done if that's the case.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The French were on New Zealand soil. The All Blacks can do all the cut thoating they like.

******** to that - I love the Haka, don't get me wrong, but if France had done anything like that before playing in 07 there would have been outrage
Teams with Hakas just get special privileges, nothing to do with it being in NZ or anything



Interestingly enough there were complaints about the throat slitting motion in 2006 and they changed it, but then changed back afterwards

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Thoughts:
- We can't afford not having Servat when playing a strong scrum.
- Mermoz did ok. Certainly better than Rougerie IMO.
- Dusautoir had a massive game. He must have gotten at least 20 tackles.
- Bonnaire defended very well, but there was no breakdown work.
- Papé had a decent game, so did Yachvili and Trinh-Duc when he came on.

For the ABs, Carter is really a class of his own. Nonu, Dagg and Kaino had outstanding games too.

Entertaining game to watch, and the final scoreline was a bit generous with France IMO.

 

[smartcooky]

That should be a penalty for France - Jane didn't mean to tackle him at first, but then grabbed Traille in the air when Traille claimed it, so it's still a tackle in the air

[TEXTAREA]Law 10.4 (i) Tackling the jumper in the air. A player must not tackle nor tap, push or pull the foot or
feet of an opponent jumping for the ball in a lineout or in open play.
Sanction: Penalty kick[/TEXTAREA]

The Law uses the the word "tackle"which is an intentional action. There has to be an intent to tackle or its not a penalty. The referee will usually judge this by where he thinks the player is looking. Usually, if he's looking at the player then he's in trouble, if he's looking at the ball, he's not. Its a rule of thumb, but not hard and fast one.

In this case, both players are looking at the ball, and they collide in mid air. The fact that Jane then puts his hands on is irrelevant; more than likely a natural reaction to being up in the air and falling. But the important thing is that there is no attempt by Jane to bring the French player down.