France vs Wallabies, EOYT 2010

[Gagger]

Are they missing a little height in the pack?

Eddie Jones doesn't rate their lineout (and subsequently dismisses their RWC chances.. :tard )

Forecast for Sat is High 1 degree, low -1 degree and light snow

I've been to game at the SDF when it was warmer than that and froze my arse off

 

[Lee Grant]

Bruce is right: the French pack is not that big compared to the 3N norm and in the main hasn't been on a regular basis for a while. I've seen them below 840kgs not too long ago.

Using the weights Bruce mentioned, the packs weighs a tad over 850kgs. I thought they were a bit more than that, closer to 860kgs but it doesn't really signify as we will probably outweigh them by about 20kgs depending on who is picked. Chabal is the only forward who is noticeably bigger that our guy - McCalman.

The front row is not that big in scale with the rest of the pack; Mas is not a gigantic THP, but they never seem to have trouble in the scrums. This suggests that pack weight in the scrummage isn't everything - if any of us ever thought that in the first place.

The starting French team is much what I expected given the 23 man squad though I rate Andreu as a better winger than Huget. Talking about weight: maybe Huget, who is a bruiser, was chosen because he balances the other wing and the fullback who are runts (and so is Andreu). That won't balance out the large midfielders (I don't think 10. Traille will run much unless he sees Cooper in front of him) so we'll have to be on top of them early.

And talking of size again - the Wallabies could challenge the runts with some high kicks near the goal line, properly chased.

More important than size in the France back 3 is the fact that they are all fairly inexperienced in test rugby. Even though Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) don't have big scrapbooks themselves, they have shown me more in big games than any 2 of the France back 3 have.

They are brilliant though, the Frog runts; like little sword fighters who stab you in the heart.

 

[#1 Tah]

French team named:

France: 15 Jerome Porical, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Damien Traille, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Sebastien Chabal, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jerome Schuster, 18 Jerome Thion, 19 Julien Bonnaire, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Fabrice Estebanez, 22 Marc Andreu.

No Cedric Heymans?

 

[TOCC]

No Cedric Heymans?

Isn't that the guy from Harry potter?

 

[Red Rooster]

Agree on the Lineout - without Harindordquy (? spelling) is significantly weak back ok but not back 3 Australia will win by 15

 

[RugbyReg]

And talking of size again - the Wallabies could challenge the runts with some high kicks near the goal line, properly chased.

chased by our runts?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

chased by our runts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_vH6cpCw8I

 

[MrMouse]

Playing was not an option until fully recouperated.

You obviously didn't hit it hard enough j/k

I can't agree more that Genia (or anyone else) shouldn't play unless 100% fit in the next year.

 

[Bullrush]

I have had rib cartlidge injuries before and they fking hurt. Playing was not an option until fully recouperated.

My damage was probably worse that Sanchez's, but I agree with The Brown Hornet, and Bruce Ross.

If he isn't properly fit, then he shouldn't play cause the Frogs will absolutely take advantage of that to Sanchez's disadvantage.

Yeah...I agree. I've played League and Gridiron with bruised/cracked ribs and it was f**kn painful!! Played two games to realise that 'playing thru it' wasn't going to work for the pain in my side. Only a dislocated shoulder (which ended up taking approx 5hrs to get back in) and Grade 2 ligament strain to my elbow would probably have hurt more.

Oh...and watching my wife give birth to the kids...hehehe

 

[Rob42]

Genia has said this week that the pain is now manageable. Given that last week he said he was OK to play, I assume this means the pain is not really manageable, but he'd really like to play. I hope Deans opts for Burgo again.

 

[Bullrush]

Genia has said this week that the pain is now manageable. Given that last week he said he was OK to play, I assume this means the pain is not really manageable, but he'd really like to play. I hope Deans opts for Burgo again.

This probably means if he gets hit hard in the ribs even once or gets stuck on the bottom of a ruck with 200+ kgs on top of him, he'll be in a world of pain for the rest of the game.....even breathing hurts when your ribs are f**kd.

 

[Lee Grant]

No Cedric Heymans?

He was never in the autumn squad let alone the 23 nominated for the match squad - nor Clerc. As I wrote earlier in the thread about the back 3: Lièvremont may be playing another long game with less experienced players

The long game is to see which of the 4 inexperienced back 3 players put their hand up for 6N and RWC spots. Part of the game also is how Rougerie, a specialist winger at test level, performs as outside centre against a top ranked country like Oz - the only top team they play in the autumn. Rougerie could find himself back on the wing for 6N.

The test careers of old stagers, Clerc and Heyman, may be over but I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it.

I think there are opportunities in testing the back 3 of the French on Saturday. Watch this space.

 

[Lee Grant]

chased by our runts?

I added properly chased deliberately. Even runts jump a lot higher chasing properly compared to a stationary runt. I should have also added in relation to any high kicks that they should be properly placed.

The point is that it they are inexperienced and the expected weather on the night will not be conducive to fielding high pills.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

This probably means if he gets hit hard in the ribs even once or gets stuck on the bottom of a ruck with 200+ kgs on top of him, he'll be in a world of pain for the rest of the game.....even breathing hurts when your ribs are f**kd.

Did you ever get a case of hiccups with your cracked ribs? I did after several sherbets at the aftermatch function after the damage was done. Couldn't stop hiccupping. V Painful. Beer helped in short term. Still felt pain but it was funny somehow!!

 

[Bullrush]

Did you ever get a case of hiccups with your cracked ribs? I did after several sherbets at the aftermatch function after the damage was done. Couldn't stop hiccupping. V Painful. Beer helped in short term. Still felt pain but it was funny somehow!!

Just thinking about it is making me laugh Laughing really sucks too cos you're really wanting to enjoy the moment but it feels like someone is sticking an 8-inch bushknife in your side....lol

 

[Elfster]

A 6.30 Sunday morning start. Migt have to get up a bit earlier to get the bacon and egg rolls ready. Or, due to it being a game against the Frogs, a few croque monsieurs, croissants with a nice apricot jam and some freshly brewed coffee. Perhaps a bottle of the bubbly - that seems to be the drink of choice for between 6am and 9am.

But it is definitely too early for the making of a hollindaise sauce for an eggs benedict.

BTW - does anyone know where to get some decent bacon in Sydney???

 

[Ash]

Lee; my bet would've been on Heymans and Clerc heading towards the "past it" category. But would like to confirm in next T14 season.

BTW, did anyone else see Australia's pack weight shown as 779 kgs (or somesuch) by the broadcasters?! And the moronic commentators, without a second thought, saying, "well that explains everything". I don't even know how they could get such a number; they definitely didn't forget to include someone.

 

[Scarfman]

Feather and Bone

 

[cyclopath]

Feather and Bone

You on the magic mushies, Scarfy?

 

[Elfster]

Feather and Bone

Many thanks...it looks good. I will give it a go.