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Venue: Oita Stadium
Time: 09:15 CAT (SA, GMT+2)
This is the one QF I worry might be a bit of a damp squib, can't really see France challenging Wales to be honest, feel it might be a bit routine.
Hopefully that's tempted fate enough for France to pull their one WC miracle performance out the bag! Is Thierry Dusautoir in the squad?
I look forward to being made to look an idiot!Really? I think France have a real shot here. They are more rested than Wales. And Wales last 2 performances didn't really impress me all that much. They have been missing tackles and have shown a few lapses in discipline.
ArrogantWales haven't looked particularly great in their last two matches but having watched Gatland teams turn up when they need to for over 15 years, I'm pretty confident Wales will have a different intensity about them in the QF (& beyond should we qualify).
People were saying we had next to no chance going into the England game this past 6 Nations on the back of two very mediocre performances away to France and Italy... and it was a different level when we knew we needed it.
Obviously, you never really have a clue when France are concerned, so nothing would surprise me... but I would have Wales as the most clear favourite across all the Quarter Finals.
Well you should knowArrogant
It's in my bloodWell you should know
Apparently it's called 'smug' when a Welshman exhibits it but tomAto TOMaTO.It's in my blood
We all enjoy thatI look forward to being made to look an idiot!
Add in England v Australia - and I'm one of those fans, regardless of the results, I'm already *****ing about it (though I'll try not to repeat myself too often)I'm not really sure how much rested is an advantage compared with maintaining momentum - my guess is whoever loses this game and NZ-Ire, some salty fans will be blaming not playing enough/playing too much either way!
They have, but they only need about 20 minutes to put an opponent away. They've shown glimpses of that traditional, insane play that we all love to watch - it mostly comes down to how interested they are...I just feel France's performances have consistently fallen off a cliff in the second half the last year or so, whether that's fitness, bench depth or psychology I don't know but I can't see them playing well for long enough to make a game of it.
This is along the lines of the way I'm seeing it... roughly 70/30.6 times out of 10, Wales win this one without too much trouble
1 time out of 10, Wales win a scrappy affair
1 time out of 10, France win, but no-one's quite sure how
1 time out of 10, France win with disciplined, structured play
1 time out of 10, the French fall in love, and there's no-one in the world who can live with them... it may only last for half an hour, but that's all they need.
Wales the biggest favourite of any of the quaterfinalists imo.
However if France have some off field tension (player mutiny, coach quits, captain and vice have a punch up etc...) then France become an unstoppable force for 80 minutes.
I still just can't see "Jouer" happening. When did we last see it?I think France might nick this. I reckon the rest will do them good, and the fact they missed out on a game against Les Rosbifs who'd they'd have really hyped themselves up for will have them foaming at the mouth come kickoff time and half an hour of Jouer could give them an unsurmountable lead.
That said if Wales score first they win. If they're within two scores at halftime they're still probably favourites too. But while I said Fiji are the one team Wales, or anyone, couldn't stop smashing through them with ease, France are a team that can go around anyone and they'll finish their chances more often than the Fijians.