RWC: France - Japan (10-09-2011, 18:00)

[Thingimubob]

Really hope that Japanese scrum half gets picked up by a big club! He may have been tiny, but his distribution was simply superb! Was pretty nippy too and caused a fair few problems round the fringes. That said, his replacement wasn't half bad either, he had a cracking quick pass on him too!

 

[ranger]

This Arlidge guy is now alegend no matter what. Go Japan!! Go the full distance!

I really thought he would be an All Black. Probably would have if he stuck around

 

[Thingimubob]

I really thought he would be an All Black. Probably would have if he stuck around

Not so sure myself - always thought he was never more than solid when he played for the Dragons. That said, he was fantastic yesterday, I guess Rugby biggest stage really does help a player raise his game!

 

[ranger]

Not so sure myself - always thought he was never more than solid when he played for the Dragons. That said, he was fantastic yesterday, I guess Rugby biggest stage really does help a player raise his game!

He was never going to be a rockstar but a handy squad member. Reliable boot, relatively mistake free, good option taker and was crazy elusive early on. Leg injuries look to have slowed him down but i tell you what, i'd rather have him on the bench than Slade.

 

[erwanseb]

France were poor, yes but has anybody been really better ??
The best performance of any team so far was probably Australia's second half, but then their first half was barely decent.
No team has really set the cup on fire so with some perspective, France was decent and stepped up a gear when needed.

 

[Draggs]

Not so sure myself - always thought he was never more than solid when he played for the Dragons. That said, he was fantastic yesterday, I guess Rugby biggest stage really does help a player raise his game!

He was solid. Not a great boot but he could be relied upon to not create any major problems.
I wondered where Murray Williams got to, I remember him playing for BoP against the Lions in 2005.

 

[Alcox]

Shane Williams Hitler video PART 2 now available!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW22bfrYxqs

 

[erwanseb]

At then of the day, the script of this game was nearly the same as in 2003.
France were leading 20-6 after half an hour then went sloppy, Japan came back within one point 20-19 after 45 minutes and the game ended 51-29 for France.
Very very similar scripts indeed.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Skrela definitely out, it's Jean Marc Doussain called
Don't know Lievremeont's precise plan in case of TD replacement. Is Doussain going to play 10 (his position in but only in U20 national team) or to play 9 (his position in Toulouse) with Parra, Traille or even Estebanez at 10. Maybe this possibility of many options made it the first choice before Wiesniewski who is a pure 10.

 

[erwanseb]

No grudge against Skrela but he was the weak link in this team, good dedicated top 14 player but not up to international standards. Doussain can play at 10, it is the lack of 9 at Toulouse that forced him into that position. Ellisalde will become world cup joker and play again.......

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Agree with you about Skrela. Voluntary but the age didn't bring him the self-confidence he should have gained with. Oppositely, he's getting more and more psychologically fragile under pressure.
Don't remember Galthié's age when he's been called for WRC 99, but Doussain could bring the same good surprise. Whatever I prefer this solution than the old traditional Michalak pending option that some were requesting.

 

[erwanseb]

Galthie played in 1991,1995,1999 and 2003, was already 30 in 1999

 

[JW.]

Could someone explain to me why Poitrenaud and Jauzion are still playing for Toulouse and playing freaking well? Why aren't they in the WC squad? I must have missed this lol?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Jauzion had a couple of bad games for France, and was looking really off pace. Actually, he was on the bench for many Toulouse games by the end of last season. I don't really blame Lièvremont on that one, as I was also of the opinion that he wouldn't be able to regain his past form.
Poitrenaud, on the other hand, has been playing very well for Toulouse but had very bad games for France. He is a bit too creative and error-prone to be playing international level according to ML. It's true that he makes very big mistakes every once in a while.
Both cases were debated heavily and there were people for and against. So at the moment of making the selection (which, one can argue, was unnecessarilly early), they were understandable, if not unanimous, decisions. I don't anyone could have predicted the level they are playing at now (though against teams without their internationals).

 

[Aout]

wrong thread !