146 replies to this topic

[Billy Webb]

The French team has been named:

15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Yann David, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Cedric Heymans, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Lionel Nallet, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Fabien Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Sylvain Marconnet, 18 Sebastien Chabal, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 David Marty, 22 Maxime Medard.

[ACT Crusader]

Like that loose forward trio. Big challenge for the young no8, but by all reports has been the business for Montpellier

[Billy Webb]

Don't know anything about the number 8, Louis Picamoles, nor the lock Romain Millo-Chluski.
Anyone know much about them?

The rest of that team looks pretty damn good.
The Boks are, by reports, pretty relieved Jauzion is crocked (and I'd agree) but it still looks like a very dangerous backline to me.

[ACT Crusader]

Picamoles is only in his early 20s and I saw him play for Montpellier last year and looked a good prospect. Haven't followed much this year since a move to Toulouse I think.

[jauzy19]

Millo-Chluski is a decent lock, not a flashy player but he's massive enough and he do a good job in the rucks.

Picamoles is a strong and powerful number 8, not very technical though. He's in superb form at the moment. Some videos to come...

[Billy Webb]

Thanks Jauzy and ACT xzxgood

[jauzy19]

Picamoles last games for Toulouse :

http://stadetoulousa...ST_1009_1Mb.wmv : number 8

http://stadetoulousa...1009_02_1Mb.wmv : number 7

http://stadetoulousa...BJ_1109_1Mb.wmv : number 22

[Billy Webb]

Links not working for me Jauzy...

This is Mark Keohane's view of the upcoming test:

Quote

This will be the Springboks’ toughest test of the year and to win they will have to play as well or better than at any stage this season. France are the best of the northern hemisphere teams and playing in Toulouse on a Friday night certainly gives the a greater advantage than the neutrality so often experienced at the Stade de France in St Denis, just outside Paris.

The Boks love that ground, but they’ve never played in Toulouse, which makes the decision to arrive in Toulouse 36 hours before kick-off even more of a risk.

I agree with him, and to be honest I have a feeling the Boks are going to come up short.
New fullback, new inside centre, no Juan Smith and no Pierre Spies...
Not to mention that our frontrow (Beast - Bismarck - J.Smit) has looked pretty creaky... not filling me with hope I'm afraid.

[jauzy19]

Billy Webb said:

Links not working for me Jauzy...

This is Mark Keohane's view of the upcoming test:

Quote

This will be the Springboks’ toughest test of the year and to win they will have to play as well or better than at any stage this season. France are the best of the northern hemisphere teams and playing in Toulouse on a Friday night certainly gives the a greater advantage than the neutrality so often experienced at the Stade de France in St Denis, just outside Paris.

The Boks love that ground, but they’ve never played in Toulouse, which makes the decision to arrive in Toulouse 36 hours before kick-off even more of a risk.

I agree with him, and to be honest I have a feeling the Boks are going to come up short.
New fullback, new inside centre, no Juan Smith and no Pierre Spies...
Not to mention that our frontrow (Beast - Bismarck - J.Smit) has looked pretty creaky... not filling me with hope I'm afraid.

Strange for the links, they work very well for me with Windows Media Player.

For the game i'm confident too, i think we can do it, the Stadium of Toulouse will be in fire indeed. The weather will be important too, and rain isn't unexpected. You should have a look at Maxime Mermoz too, this guy is a pure class player, a genious.

[Tim]

Try a "save as", Billy. Should stop them opening as text.

[allyphint]

This will be a cracker game. The Boks will be out to prove a point after Leicester proved their point.
I dont really know the french team, except Chabal and Thierry Henry.


France by 5?

[scribe]

Stuart Barnes in The Sunday Times yesterday believes this match is the precursor to the 2011 RWC final:

Quote

New Zealand will probably crack under the pressure of internal expectations as World Cup hosts. And that could open the way for Friday night's match to be repeated as the final in Auckland. The countdown to 2011 begins in Toulouse.

Nothing like setting your stall out early Stuart!

[velvitjester]

Billy Webb said:

Links not working for me Jauzy...

This is Mark Keohane's view of the upcoming test:

Quote

This will be the Springboks’ toughest test of the year and to win they will have to play as well or better than at any stage this season. France are the best of the northern hemisphere teams and playing in Toulouse on a Friday night certainly gives the a greater advantage than the neutrality so often experienced at the Stade de France in St Denis, just outside Paris.

The Boks love that ground, but they’ve never played in Toulouse, which makes the decision to arrive in Toulouse 36 hours before kick-off even more of a risk.

I agree with him, and to be honest I have a feeling the Boks are going to come up short.
New fullback, new inside centre, no Juan Smith and no Pierre Spies...
Not to mention that our frontrow (Beast - Bismarck - J.Smit) has looked pretty creaky... not filling me with hope I'm afraid.

Does he know who the european chamions are?

[Parcy v2.0]

Yes, yes, that's all really nice but the real news is:

We're back in Blue, White and Red!!! Although the blue jersey is still a bit too dark for my liking, the white shorts and Red socks are back.

Thank fuck for that!

http://www.ffr.fr/

[taffyjoe]

Parcy Dal Païs said:

Yes, yes, that's all really nice but the real news is:

We're back in Blue, White and Red!!! Although the blue jersey is still a bit too dark for my liking, the white shorts and Red socks are back.

Thank fuck for that!

http://www.ffr.fr/

Really? I look forward to the day your boys come in some thing a bit more manly. Like this:-

http://www.rugby15.c...defrancaish.jpg

[mimic]

uniform looks good, but yeah, only the blue needs to be less dark

[rustycruiser]

Parcy Dal Païs said:

Yes, yes, that's all really nice but the real news is:

We're back in Blue, White and Red!!! Although the blue jersey is still a bit too dark for my liking, the white shorts and Red socks are back.

Thank fuck for that!

http://www.ffr.fr/

About bloody time!

[Kehua o Jury]

Good one. Now I can watch France without embarrassment. The spandex, YMCA uniform was atrocious.

[Billy Webb]

Some more verbals to warm us up for the contest:

Quote

France loose forward Imanol Harinordoquy regards the Springboks as the ultimate test of physicality.

Friday’s Test in Toulouse is likely to be marked by an almighty battle between two burly sets of forwards and by brutal collisions with little regard for personal well-being. The victor of that duel will contribute significantly to giving their side the ascendency.

The French media have seemingly become fixated on the physicality of the Springboks, with former France captain Lucien Mias offering his thoughts on the contest, saying, ‘In a sport of sacrifice, the Springboks have decided once and for all to be the butcher rather than the lamb.’

Asked for his reaction to the comment, Harinordoquy said, ‘Yes, you could say they are butchers but I can assure you we are not going to be the lambs on Friday.’

He continued with his forthright assessment. ‘South Africa are world champions, they are the best team in the world but they also are the nastiest and most physical team in the world. A team that is always trying to hurt,’ he noted.

‘Of course, they play inside the rules, they don’t stamp on you or knee you because now if you do that it’s a yellow card or even a red card.

‘Our sport is changing but the fundamentals are the same. A rugby game, and particularly a game against the Springboks, is above all a fight between two packs of forwards.’

The 29-year-old intimated that they weren’t expecting the Springboks to play expansively, but rather to try and achieve victory through the pragmatic approach which has brought them success in 2009.

‘They don’t play a very sophisticated game but they always try to break their opponents defence, they are very strong in the tackle, and in the rucks, their line-out is superb and they are hefty in the physical duels,’ he said.

‘We beat them last time we met but it was in 2006 [36-26 in Cape Town] and they were rebuilding their team. Friday’s Test will be another story, winning the World Cup has given them a lot of confidence and they can hammer any team in the world.

‘To match them, we’ll have to be very strong on the fundamentals of the game, do simple things but do them well even if sometimes it’s the most difficult. I’m sure we can do it but we’ll have to be at our best and play with a lot of solidarity.’

Some great stuff in there. I wouldn't be too surprised if there ends up being a bit of biff.
From my experience, the French won't take a backward step and are never shy to mix it.
I wonder whether the Boks have the intensity to match them...? The guys seem jaded after a long season.

[Kehua o Jury]

GO THE BOKS! I'll be cheering for you. I'm hoping for a Southern clean sweep ...

[Billy Webb]

Jury said:

GO THE BOKS! I'll be cheering for you. I'm hoping for a Southern clean sweep ...

Good man! xzxcool

Likewise, I'm hoping for a SH whitewash.
Even found myself digging around for a Waltzing Matilda / Advance Australia Fair CD last weekend.
OK, not quite that bad but you get the point

[Kehua o Jury]

Billy Webb said:

Jury said:

GO THE BOKS! I'll be cheering for you. I'm hoping for a Southern clean sweep ...

Good man! xzxcool

Likewise, I'm hoping for a SH whitewash.
Even found myself digging around for a Waltzing Matilda / Advance Australia Fair CD last weekend.
OK, not quite that bad but you get the point

Ho! That's terrible ... almost as bad as when you start whistling the damn thing in your glee about another Southern team beating a Northern one ... xzxshok

[Billy Webb]

Bok Team named:

Springboks: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Adi Jacobs, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Andries Bekker, 20 Danie Rossouw, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Wynand Olivier.

So, after initially not being deemed good enough to make the squad, 3 FR forwards called up at the last minute suddenly appear on the bench.... Thank faark for it too!

[Billy Webb]

5-2 bench....
So I guess Pienaar will cover 9 / 10 / 15 with Olivier covering 12-13 and in combination with J.Fourie, 11 & 14.

I expect the Bok logic is that they are anticipating a heavy battle upfront.
There's some serious beef on the Bok bench - I'd back the bench frontrow to destroy the 1st choice one.

[Blue]

Billy Webb said:

5-2 bench....

There's some serious beef on the Bok bench - I'd back the bench frontrow to destroy the 1st choice one.

All day, every day.

I'll give Snor credit. When the shit hit the fan he was prepared to admit his error and make a big call.

[Billy Webb]

Blue said:

Billy Webb said:

5-2 bench....

There's some serious beef on the Bok bench - I'd back the bench frontrow to destroy the 1st choice one.

All day, every day.

I'll give Snor credit. When the shit hit the fan he was prepared to admit his error and make a big call.

Not sure he's admitting jack-shit Blue. xzxsarcastic
He just got lucky with injuries - much like he did with having to include Brussow against the BIL's.

Still... I'll take it!

[SidBarret]

As much as I am worried about the scrums for this game, I think this team should absolutely murder the French at ruck time.

[Billy Webb]

SidBarret said:

As much as I am worried about the scrums for this game, I think this team should absolutely murder the French at ruck time.

I reckon Brussow should win the race to the ball, but I would hesitate to underestimate France's ferocity when it comes to cleaning players out.

Boy, I am looking forward to this one!

[CTRANG]

The weather is very cold here in France and it has been raining for days. In these conditions, I guess we will watch a formidable forward battle and plenty of kicking from both sides.

[Billy Webb]

Just a great pity we don't have Francois Steyn's siege gun boot at the back then.
Kirchner is ok, but not in the same league as the youngster.