RWC Semi Final: France - Wales (15-08-2011, 21:00)

[TRF_RC]

Hands up who's nervous over this game?!

 

[LittleGuy]

Hands up who's nervous over this game?!

All four limbs in the air, I have a sick feeling to my stomach that the French will win the RWC even with two losses and that Canada's victory over Tonga may have made it possible.

 

[Darwin]

Hands up who's nervous over this game?!

I'm not evenly remotely nervous... but then again I don't support either team (I'd probably prefer Wales to win though, as I really like the way they are playing rugby at the moment). I'm glad this match is played before the AB's v Australia game, as I can fully enjoy this game (which I wouldn't if a certain team in black loses to a team in gold).

It would be interesting if France lost to Wales, then lost the 3rd and 4th playoff (to Australia... hopefully) - they would be 4th in the world cup, but their playing record would read: Played 7, won 3, lost 4

 

[LittleGuy]

I'm not evenly remotely nervous... but then again I don't support either team (I'd probably prefer Wales to win though, as I really like the way they are playing rugby at the moment). I'm glad this match is played before the AB's v Australia game, as I can fully enjoy this game (which I wouldn't if a certain team in black loses to a team in gold).

It would be interesting if France lost to Wales, then lost the 3rd and 4th playoff (to Australia... hopefully) - they would be 4th in the world cup, but their playing record would read: Played 7, won 3, lost 4

And didn't exactly acquit themselves that well vs Japan and Canada who pushed them deep into their games very tightly

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

I think Wales has this game in the bag, I do not beleive France can play as good as they did for the first 30mins against England again... however you never know with the French they are a very good team!!! Wales are playing beautiful rugby with great defence... they almost beat SA... also Wales deserve to get to the final, they only lost 1 game by 1 point and France 2 games to broth NZ and Tonga.

 

[groga]

It would be interesting if France lost to Wales, then lost the 3rd and 4th playoff (to Australia... hopefully) - they would be 4th in the world cup, but their playing record would read: Played 7, won 3, lost 4

Lol ^ and still finish fourth crazy!

 

[TRF_RC]

There's always that little ****ling thought in the back of your mind when you come up against France: Which team is going to show up?
There have been times against Wales when the two teams have shown up and Wales still came out as victors, but these occasions have been few and far between. France has been a consistently stronger side than wales over the past 30 years. But Wales have got huge momentum right now and we're solid in defence.
That's one of our biggest assets: how few tackles we miss.
I'm really nervous because I have faith in our boys...i just hope they do as well.
Like me, a huge majority of these boys have never witnessed Wales get so far in a world cup - some weren't even born the last time we reached the semi finals! - i hope they don't let nerves get the better of them (like they are with me) and do not underestimate what has been a relatively poor French performance this world cup. They've gotten all this way without a solid 80mins performance...they need to change that this saturday. And that's exactly when the French show up: when they HAVE TO.

 

[Surefire]

Team has been announced no changes. But Yachvili is day to day, final decision on Thursday. Nine players named to the bench with the young scrum half Doussain as the replacement if Yach. can't make it. As we get closer to game time I am feeling more and more confident France wins this. Either way should be good, both teams are riding a high and eager to get back on the pitch.

From Rugbyrama site;

Le XV de départ tricolore : Médard ; Clerc, Rougerie, Mermoz, Palisson ; (o) Parra, (m) Yachvili ; Bonnaire, Harinordoquy, Dusautoir (cap.) ; Nallet, Papé ; Mas, Servat, Poux.

Remplaçants : Szarzewski, Barcella, Pierre, Ouedraogo, Picamoles, Doussain, Trinh Duc, Marty, Heymans.

 

[jaunard06]

I know comparison is not reason but let's do it anyway

scrum: draw. I can hardly guess who would win that one, but it would be a tough battle,
back row: advantage to France as long as Hari/Bonnaire/Dusautoir are on the field,
halves: advantage to Wales, they're just outstanding since the beginning of the tournament ! And France plays with two 9s as Trinh Duc will be on the bench.
backs: Wales, because they're consistent all along the match. Indivudually it is rather another draw, with amazing potential and experience on both sides.
collective display: WALES !!! By a mile.
mental strength: advantage France as they already reached the final twice in word cup and are used to be at that stage, and also because they're outsider on that particular event. And also because they have yet to prove themselves they're up to it. England match was not enough for that given the unconvincing second half.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

It would be interesting if France lost to Wales, then lost the 3rd and 4th playoff (to Australia... hopefully) - they would be 4th in the world cup, but their playing record would read: Played 7, won 3, lost 4

What about a 1st place with a Played 7, won 5, lost 2 ??

 

[AKA]

I don't think Ben Morgan would have solved England's problems, he is pretty much a carbon copy of Nick Easter, and is no better than Waldrom, and he definitely needed to play Saxons before being called up ahead of hem as so far he's only been successful in Magners League

The reason Wales simply can just put youngsters like Toby Faletau in the side is because they have far less players and depth, and sometimes I think Gatland has gone too far with introducing youngsters into the team such as Prydie, Kristian Phillips and Scott Williams who haven't been getting many league starts or Heineken Cup experience (however Scott Williams has proved my concerns wrong

I am gonna have to disagree with you regarding Morgan. I think he is far better ball carrier than easter or waldrom (keeping David Lyons on the bench) and much better in loose play aswell but I guess only time will tell if I am right.

Wales don't have the same player depth as other big nations but I don't think giving younsters with potential a chance is bad at all. If they are good enough they will make it and if they are not then they won't. We had Ryan jones, Andy powel, John Thomas and garath Delve, all established no. 8 but if we had taken the Johnson approach and not given young Toby a chance then we would have never known if he could play at this level now, which he clearly can. I am a strong believer in given younsters chance in any sport. But TRF_Olyy is right, this is way off topic.

Still off topic, I am really delighted that Argentina are in the Tri - nation. They should have been there long long time ago. It ****** me off that IRB and big rugby nations don't do enough to promote the game globally. And what's the Rugby in Brazil like because I think they have great potentail. Saw this advert in youtube which I thought was hillarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKnQn-8PFII

And finally on topic, I think the game on weekend is 50/50. I don't want to predict a Wales win because I don't want to tempt faith and we always struggle against the French. But this is our best chance ever to reach the final.

 

[groga]

Still off topic, I am really delighted that Argentina are in the Tri - nation. They should have been there long long time ago. It ****** me off that IRB and big rugby nations don't do enough to promote the game globally. And what's the Rugby in Brazil like because I think they have great potentail. Saw this advert in youtube which I thought was hillarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKnQn-8PFII

Agree with this it's great for the future of rugby.

 

[dullonien]

I know comparison is not reason but let's do it anyway

scrum: draw. I can hardly guess who would win that one, but it would be a tough battle,
back row: advantage to France as long as Hari/Bonnaire/Dusautoir are on the field,
halves: advantage to Wales, they're just outstanding since the beginning of the tournament ! And France plays with two 9s as Trinh Duc will be on the bench.
backs: Wales, because they're consistent all along the match. Indivudually it is rather another draw, with amazing potential and experience on both sides.
collective display: WALES !!! By a mile.
mental strength: advantage France as they already reached the final twice in word cup and are used to be at that stage, and also because they're outsider on that particular event. And also because they have yet to prove themselves they're up to it. England match was not enough for that given the unconvincing second half.

The Welsh backrow has been the best in the tournament so far, so I personally think it's advantage Wales there although it can go any way on the day.

I think our defence could be the difference once again. The stats still probably show that Wales have yet to concede a linebreak in the tournament (Earls' try didn't come from a clean linebreak, he squeezed over in the corner). That means that even if a player misses a tackle (which hasn't happened very often), there's always been cover behind him, and that's great to see. England missed 10 tackles in the first 30min last week when France marched to a 16 point lead, I can't see Wales missing anywhere close to that many. As it was in '08, I think the French will get frustrated in attack, and will be forced into trying special things to get through, it all depends if they come off or not, after all France are capable of pulling some amazing things off on their day, but they're also capable of handing over soft tries if they don't come off.

I still feel quite confident, but at the same time knowing that France could pull out something special on the day.

 

[james5000]

The Welsh backrow has been the best in the tournament so far, so I personally think it's advantage Wales there although it can go any way on the day.

I think our defence could be the difference once again. The stats still probably show that Wales have yet to concede a linebreak in the tournament (Earls' try didn't come from a clean linebreak, he squeezed over in the corner). That means that even if a player misses a tackle (which hasn't happened very often), there's always been cover behind him, and that's great to see. England missed 10 tackles in the first 30min last week when France marched to a 16 point lead, I can't see Wales missing anywhere close to that many. As it was in '08, I think the French will get frustrated in attack, and will be forced into trying special things to get through, it all depends if they come off or not, after all France are capable of pulling some amazing things off on their day, but they're also capable of handing over soft tries if they don't come off.

I still feel quite confident, but at the same time knowing that France could pull out something special on the day.

]

Hougaard strolled right through your defence in the opening game, if that aint a line break I don't know what a line break is.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

ESPN stats have Wales 'conceding' 9 breaks

D'arcy (IRE): 1
Fourie (RSA): 1
Hougaard (RSA): 1
Williams (SAM): 2
Koll (NAM): 1
Buatava (FIJ): 1
Nakawara (FIJ): 1
Talei (FIJ): 1

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The line-break by Heinz Koll was phenomenal... Try of the tournament haha

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Anyway, I'll agree with dullonien's point, that the backrow is "advantage Wales", if not even, but I don't see it as "advantage France". Although I think that the role of the loose forwards in this game will not be to go against each other (except for Warburton, who has to be controlled in the breakdown), but to cover tackles in the midfield and in the 10 channel.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I love the Guardians description of it:
"From midfield, he sets off on an arcing lumber towards the right corner, with Welsh hooker Lloyd Burns in luke-warm pursuit. In what must be the slowest foot-race in athletic history, the second row wins the charge to the corner to the delight of his team-mates and the watching crowd." :lol:

 

[Thingimubob]

Thought Koll scored an intercept? Or does that count as a line break too?
Also with Hougaards... Wayne Barnes wasn't pulling his weight as part of the defensive line

 

[elgringoborracho]

The Welsh backrow has been the best in the tournament so far, so I personally think it's advantage Wales there although it can go any way on the day.

I think our defence could be the difference once again. The stats still probably show that Wales have yet to concede a linebreak in the tournament (Earls' try didn't come from a clean linebreak, he squeezed over in the corner). That means that even if a player misses a tackle (which hasn't happened very often), there's always been cover behind him, and that's great to see. England missed 10 tackles in the first 30min last week when France marched to a 16 point lead, I can't see Wales missing anywhere close to that many. As it was in '08, I think the French will get frustrated in attack, and will be forced into trying special things to get through, it all depends if they come off or not, after all France are capable of pulling some amazing things off on their day, but they're also capable of handing over soft tries if they don't come off.

I still feel quite confident, but at the same time knowing that France could pull out something special on the day.

Linebreaks conceded are not the only way to measure a defense efficiency. I think what won us the game against the English was:
_ the fact that we went forward at every impact, provoking penalties
_ Yachvili's excellent place kicking, and then Trinh Duc's, which allowed us to play most of the time in England territory and put pressure on defenders on up n unders
_ and yes, one clean line break, but just one.

In other words: making your tackles is important, but not enough if you make them while going backwards in your own half.

Wales have been better physically than every team in front of them untill now, but (I might be wrong) I don't believe it will be the case against France. It should be 50/50 at start, but our bench is massive in terms of physicality with Szarzewski, Pierre, Picamoles and Marty.

Having said that, I still think it's a 50/50 game. I just don't think it will be down do linebreaks. I might sound boring but scrummaging, lineouts, place kicking and aggressivity in the rucks should be the prevailing aspects.