RWCR1 France vs All Blacks

[Chilli]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

One good thing is Leicester on the bench....

Very good team.

It will be a cracking test.

[Ymx]

England got to the final despite loosing a pool game in 20007, as did France in 2011 (and they would have won if it had being held in a neutral venue).

Last RWC was a good advert for peaking at the right time. England blew their load in the semi whereas SA grinded out a win against Wales (despite IMO being a much better side).

Or a bent ref in Joubert

The dirty bastard ignored this blatant offside ruck infringement, where he started to the side, and around and blatantly booted it out, which immediately led to a try. France should have still been on 0 !!

So shut it !!





Not soon after this, France choked on a penalty kick, for a penalty against NZ that Joubert awarded.

Then that twat above gouged Richie. Dirty fvcking French prick !!!

[Gumboot]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

[Grandpa]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Could be worse.. imagine if we lost Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith and Richie Mounga to tournament ending injuries... then we'd really be screwed!

I know I predicted a NZ win... but I feel uneasy now...

[Guy Smiley]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Could be worse.. imagine if we lost Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith and Richie Mounga to tournament ending injuries... then we'd really be screwed!

I know I predicted a NZ win... but I feel uneasy now...

4 years of unsettled selections and combinations under Fozzie, with a few years of it under Hansen, will have the players well primed and ready for continued disruption. Suddenly, it's all looking like a masterclass in 4 1/2 D chess.

[Kiwias]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

[Grandpa]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

They said it could be a loose forward... which it should have been anyway... instead of Clarke.,..

Blackadder and Finau would be handy in the squad now.. for Narawa and Jacobson...

[Gumboot]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

Apart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.

I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.

[Guy Smiley]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

Apart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.

I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.

I think they have enough cover for outsides, a loosie is more on the cards. Finau for me.

[Kiwias]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

Apart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.

I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.

I think they have enough cover for outsides, a loosie is more on the cards. Finau for me.

I'd be very happy with Finau there.

[Kiwias]

So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank

Apart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.

I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.

Just watched the highlights and he was far from convincing on defense for Otago's first two tries.

[OomStruisbaai]

All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.

[Flockwitt]

France to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.

Fixxed.

[Guy Smiley]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-wor ... cup-opener

Marc Hinton

His team-mates have dubbed him Mr Fixit, and All Blacks coach Ian Foster was backing veteran midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown to capably fill the void

The 26-year-old Barrett picked up a knee injury in the wake of the Twickenham shellacking at the hands of the South Africans, and though Foster confirmed it was not considered serious, it was bad enough to keep him off the training paddock all week in Lyon. The coach said he had no hesitation in turning to the 28-year-old, 63-test Lienert Brown to partner Rieko Ioane in midfield.

Fuck.

Off.

[Chilli]

All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.

This.

[Muttonbird]

Anton Lienert-Brown is a nice lad. Very assured in his early outings for the ABs but has has a string of injuries.

I hope he does well.

[OomStruisbaai]

There is not much change in the All Blacks team that were bliksemed by the Bokke. They will go into this game with a blue eye.

[Grandpa]

All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.

This. They'll do to France the same as they did to SA and Australia in the last competitive matches they played... France will wonder what has hit them...

[Torquemada 1420]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?

[Grandpa]

Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?

Finaly Christie on the bench...

No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?

Scott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...

[Kiwias]

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?

Scott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...

Just as Papali'i is a 7 and plays there for the Blues, so Scott Barrett is a lock. We have to get past an obsession with shoe-horning players into positions they hardly ever play.

[Sards]

Excited about an All Blacks win

[Torquemada 1420]

Well that sucks balls.

This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.

My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.

Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?

Scott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...

Then I guess the question is what cover was there for BS?

[Grandpa]

Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?

Scott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...

Then I guess the question is what cover was there for BS?

We all said the squad had too many wingers and not enough flankers/locks... and so it rears it's head in the first match! A lock and flanker injured and we're a bit stuffed... but I still think NZ can win tomorrow... will all depend on their emotional state.. and France's.

[Jethro]

Reviewing the AB lineup for the first up game against France, who are admittedly missing a couple of players, zero confidence. We are going to get bounced in this one by thirty odd points. On the bright side we should still make the quarters, where we'll get bounced anyways. Thanks for the memories Fozz, or should I say nightmares.

[Ymx]

Reviewing the AB lineup for the first up game against France, who are admittedly missing a couple of players, zero confidence. We are going to get bounced in this one by thirty odd points. On the bright side we should still make the quarters, where we'll get bounced anyways. Thanks for the memories Fozz, or should I say nightmares.

God I’d love us to eat our words, but by fark has there been a worse duo than Foster and Cane? They have truly set so many new records.

What’s next? Loss to Italy to send us packing sounds like the apt farewell.

[laurent]

The mockers are not amused lads.

[Gumboot]

God I’d love us to eat our words, but by fark has there been a worse duo than Foster and Cane? They have truly set so many new records.

What’s next? Loss to Italy to send us packing sounds like the apt farewell.

Yep, our first ever loss to the Azzurri is very much on the cards.

[Guy Smiley]

The mockers are not amused lads.

Have you not paid attention to the Glorious Reign of Ian fucking Foster?

[Cartman]

Teams met

87 final
99 semi final
07 quarterfinal
11 Pool
11 final

We are due a again.

You left one out
How, I dont know

[Grandpa]

Teams met

87 final
99 semi final
07 quarterfinal
11 Pool
11 final

We are due a again.

You left one out
How, I dont know

2015 is a blur....

[Ymx]

I did. Doh. That was a romping.

[Guy Smiley]

I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?

[Grandpa]

I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?

These teams have met seven times at World Cups

France v NZ

England v Australia

Australia v Wales

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news ... n-fixtures

[Grandpa]

I did. Doh. That was a romping.

and 2003 bronze medal

[Cartman]

I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?

These teams have met seven times at World Cups

France v NZ

England v Australia

Australia v Wales

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news ... n-fixtures

I thought Wales vs Fiji would be up there but I guess not?
They seem to be in the same group every time

[SaintK]

Well I hope both sides have their hydration sorted out
It was 35C walking round Paris last night

[Ymx]

It’s game day!

[Torquemada 1420]

The mockers are not amused lads.

TBF, if France has any realistic pretensions of winning the thing, they need to defeat NZ. With all due respect to the ABs, Ire and SA are far sterner tests at the moment.

[Guy Smiley]

Countdown timer

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matc ... ew-zealand