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

[Shaggy]

Why do i get the feeling that we may have different interpretations of this sentence..

:lol: You remember, Ranger ... that was the game that Soane Tonga'uiha humbled Owen Franks in the scrums

 

[JW.]

:lol: You remember, Ranger ... that was the game that Soane Tonga'uiha humbled Owen Franks in the scrums

He sure as hell didn't get beaten by Franks. Still not impressed by his scrummaging.

 

[Shaggy]

He sure as hell didn't get beaten by Franks. Still not impressed by his scrummaging.

Was he not? ... I guess the official rugby world cup site has the stats wrong then - it's seems that they have the All Blacks winning all of their 10 scrums, where as the Tongans won seven and lost two.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10920/statistics.html

PS - the initial remark was a dig at a poster on the NZ V Tonga thread, where apparently Franks was going to get a lesson etc

 

[ranger]

He sure as hell didn't get beaten by Franks. Still not impressed by his scrummaging.

Are you serious right now? he sure as hell DID get beaten by Franks. Hands down. Franks won two against the head against Tonga'uiha, and the Tongan scrum was looking shaky the whole time. Then when Taumalolo came on, the Tongans gave the All Blacks a fright by packing down a couple of reasonably steady scrums where it didn't look like they would crumble at any second. At no stage did the AB scrum look to be threatened at all, not in the least by Tonga'uiha.

Christ on a bike lad. Do you actually watch these games? or do you just look at pictures of the players and the final score and piece together the match in your mind..

the initial remark was a dig at a poster on the NZ V Tonga thread, where apparently Franks was going to get a lesson etc

It turns out JW actually was the guy saying that..

 

[Nicolaas]

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.

well if any team or any coach ever thinks like that then they realy need to run into something hard head first.

 

[Shaggy]

Are you serious right now? he sure as hell DID get beaten by Franks. Hands down. Franks won two against the head against Tonga'uiha, and the Tongan scrum was looking shaky the whole time. Then when Taumalolo came on, the Tongans gave the All Blacks a fright by packing down a couple of reasonably steady scrums where it didn't look like they would crumble at any second. At no stage did the AB scrum look to be threatened at all, not in the least by Tonga'uiha.

Christ on a bike lad. Do you actually watch these games? or do you just look at pictures of the players and the final score and piece together the match in your mind..



It turns out JW actually was the guy saying that..

Ah, okay ... I didn't realise

So, the French front row will teach him (Franks) a lesson this week then

... and if that doesn't happen, then the quarter final opponent will

... and then the semi opponent (if we get there)

... maybe in the final?

 

[markshaw]

Are you serious right now? he sure as hell DID get beaten by Franks. Hands down. Franks won two against the head against Tonga'uiha, and the Tongan scrum was looking shaky the whole time. Then when Taumalolo came on, the Tongans gave the All Blacks a fright by packing down a couple of reasonably steady scrums where it didn't look like they would crumble at any second. At no stage did the AB scrum look to be threatened at all, not in the least by Tonga'uiha.

Christ on a bike lad. Do you actually watch these games? or do you just look at pictures of the players and the final score and piece together the match in your mind..



It turns out JW actually was the guy saying that..

Hes a saints fan by the looks of it. Lets no forget that Tonga'huia played for Auckland here in New Zealand but didnt last long and was never rated here. So cant see how he is gonna destroy a team he was never ANYWHERE near......haha joker you are JW

 

[TRF_Olyy]

... maybe in the final?

The All Blacks?
In the final?

Pahahahahahahaha :lol:

 

[ranger]

The All Blacks?
In the final?

Pahahahahahahaha :lol:

One day. Hopefully this year where we then go on to lose. I still have exams at that stage, the mournful silence would be conducive to study.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Mark my words- this French team is going to get thumped by 30 points.

I'm not saying that in arrogance, I just think they have decided that winning this game isn't that important (hence playing someone at 1st five who hasn't played there internationally before) and that they need to save players for the play-offs against England.

Would not be suprised if this was the same two nations in the final (possibly with different line-ups)

 

[Dizzy]

All Blacks to play French.,

Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Adam Thomson,Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams

 

[Dizzy]

I'd say that is our top side, besides Kieran Read.. It's great that Henry has picked Dagg over Mils. We don't need the safety and experience back there, Dagg isn't that bad of a defender he has Jane and Kahui to aid him and he is much more potent on attack

On the propping discussion. Tongauiha didn't do eff all against the All Blacks. After all the praise from posters about how he was gonna godzilla the All Black scrum with one arm tied to his left leg and both eyes closed he didn't do anything at all.
Now Taumalolo is a man I rate highly[not just because he plays for Hawkes Bay] and I think he should've started this game as HE is a scrummager. But even he didn't do much against Franks. Yes he picked up the Tongans confidence in those restarts next to the try line but ultimate, he didn't dominate Franks either.

All this talk about so and so is gonna dominate the AB's scrum is rubbish, and if you believe so you're foolish. We don't have a particularly overly-dominant scrum, but we don't have a weak one either.

 

[Darwin]

Pretty much as predicted - they only change from the starting lineup I predicted is Weepu over Cowan. Not surprised to see Ellis on the bench either backing up Weepu, as the selectors don't think Cowan provides impact from the bench (he's either a starter or sitting in the stands). The major surprise for me is the fact Vito isn't included on the bench, meaning Boric and Whitelock are again providing loose-forward cover. I like the fact Boric is there (as he needs gametime) but personally I think they should had Vito alongside him on the bench. Interesting to see too that SBWs strong game last week has meant he's been given another chance off the bench ahead of Toeava.

 

[Dizzy]

Hopefully Jane can produce some great touches we know hes capable of and we see SBW come on for either Kahui or Conrad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's a bloody good ABs side

Though I do hope that SBW comes on on the wing, he'll get turned inside out by Medard/Clerc

 

[Rhyer]

I feel happy about that line up, reserves are rubbish. Sonny Bill will be made to look ordinary like he did in the Top 14 if he gets a crack, Adam Thomson in number 8 is about as fearful the Queen of England! If I were the selector I would choose this side;

15 - Mils 14 - Jane 13 - Smith 12 - Nonu 11 - Dagg 10 - Carter 9 - Ellis 8 - Reid 7 - Mccaw 6 - Kaino 5 - Boric 4 - Thorn 3 - O.Franks 2 - Hore 1 - Crockett
16 - Mealamu 17 - B.Franks 18 - A.Williams 19 - Vito 20 - Weepu 21 - Kahui 22 - Toeava

Much stronger 22... I don't know why Dagg is so hyped up, his defence is miserable and Mils is the safest fullback in the business.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's a point, where the hell is Mils?!
He hasn't been used in any match yet, has he? Is he injured or just not in favour?

 

[cardassian]

Pretty good line up named but am surprised to see no specialist loose forward cover.
Guess Whitelock is going to have to cover there.
Great to see Boric on the bench, hope he gets a decent run.
Interesting to see Dagg take the number 1 fullback spot off Mils, not unexpected but this must be confirmation that he's now our guy.
Can't wait for this match, hope we win.

@ Rhyer Reid is injured otherwise he'd be picked.

 

[Dizzy]

You guys really think SBW will get turned inside out??.. Don't forget, up until now the French have only played lower ranked squads and for most of the match have struggled until the last ten minutes..

SBW is playing with arguably some of the best players in the world and since that comment, I'm now begging for Henry to put SBW on the wing so he can show you guys what he is truly made of against your precious Medard/Clerc.

As for Rhyer's disbelief in Dagg, you shall see on Saturday my man.

 

[Darwin]

That's a point, where the hell is Mils?!
He hasn't been used in any match yet, has he? Is he injured or just not in favour?

He was named to play against Japan, but got injured so was pulled out. I looks like Dagg has supplanted him as New Zealand's number 1 fullback.

I feel happy about that line up, reserves are rubbish. Sonny Bill will be made to look ordinary like he did in the Top 14 if he gets a crack, Adam Thomson in number 8 is about as fearful the Queen of England! If I were the selector I would choose this side;

15 - Mils 14 - Jane 13 - Smith 12 - Nonu 11 - Dagg 10 - Carter 9 - Ellis 8 - Reid 7 - Mccaw 6 - Kaino 5 - Boric 4 - Thorn 3 - O.Franks 2 - Hore 1 - Crockett
16 - Mealamu 17 - B.Franks 18 - A.Williams 19 - Vito 20 - Weepu 21 - Kahui 22 - Toeava

Much stronger 22... I don't know why Dagg is so hyped up, his defence is miserable and Mils is the safest fullback in the business.

Dagg's defense is not that bad. It is not as good as Muliaina's (or Toeava's), but he is certainly not weak in defense as many have suggested. Dagg's decision making and error rate are a much bigger concern than his defense for me. Personally I'm not sure whether I'd select him over Muliaina (or Toeava), but if Dagg does play to his potential he is a phenomenal player.