NZ v France series thread

corny

Passing is so laboured from Michalak

JRant

No depth at all to the French attack.

[Jackass]

On a side note, is that match being played in the RDS?? Looks very similar!

toomevara

brandon_flowers wrote: »

Surely France can put out a better 10 than Freddie at this stage...

Well, can they? I'm not a student of French rugby by any means but I just don't understand why France persist with Michelak, beyond the simple absence of a better alternative. They guy is beyond parody at this point. I know he's a naturally talented footballer yada, yada, yada, but his performances are shocking. He's just not an international calibre 10. As long as france persist with him, they'll succeed, if they do at all, in spite of him. Is the influx of foreign talent to the French game strangling the development of French 10's? I mean they used to turn out effective fly halves with relative ease...Poor oul Freddie needs the shepherd's crook badly, I mean this cant be any fun for him either...

thomond2006

Have they brought on Tales yet?

toomevara

How many is that the kiwis have blown 2? 3? They'll not be pleased...

JRant

thomond2006 wrote: »

Have they brought on Tales yet?

About 5 minutes ago.

Kiwi_knock

What a lovely try

brandon_flowers

Well the French usually prefer their 9 to be the general rather than 10 but if they still had Galthie at 9 Michalak would still destroy any good work. Regarding foreigners in the Top 14 they have had a lot of dominant 10's from overseas

Manny Edmonds, Luke McAllister, Brock James, Morne Steyn, Carter for 6 months, Sexton next year, Hernandez, James Hook.

**** that... what a try.

[Jackass]

You just can't teach that...

Taco Corp

what a try

matthew8

Absolute cracker of a try by NZ.

callaway92

Forward Pass

Aidric

What a try that is, element of luck with the kick bounce but the rest was brilliant running and offloading.

Tox56

That's just insane

JRant

Well there's the 30 points on the board.

Great try, unbelievable stuff.

twinytwo

that boys and girls is what you call a sexy try

pickarooney

Cruden's offloads from the floor are a thing of beauty.

Tox56

Aidric wrote: »

What a try that is, element of luck with the kick bounce but the rest was brilliant running and offloading.

You deserve that luck with the way Smith took the pass and got the kick away (on his bad foot) in a split second

ScissorPaperRock

Holy s*** what an offload

Chabals Beard

Pure class

Rightwing

The way the Lions are playing at the moment, it's a shame it's not a series v NZ. What a cracker that would be.

trouttrout

Rightwing wrote: »

The way the Lions are playing at the moment, it's a shame it's not a series v NZ. What a cracker that would be.

Lions would lose, and pretty convincingly too, especially with Galtand at the helm. Kiwis would eat up that attacking play

Judgement Day

Great result , a well deserved win and France were lucky not to lose by more. I just checked on Wiki and what the commentators were discussing is true - it was the first time that France have failed to register any points against the All Blacks in a game. I wonder what the response will be next weekend now that there's only pride to play for?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hch-1AipRrY

thomond2006

Michalak is out of the third test because of a shoulder injury, could be 6-8 weeks apparently. So either Tales or Lopez will start at 10 in the third test, with Doussain coming onto the bench to cover both 9 and 10.

Klunk_NZ

That last try was one of the greats.

schools rugby

Where was Beauden Barrett playing when he came on ?

sydthebeat

schools rugby wrote: »

Where was Beauden Barrett playing when he came on ?

He came on at 15 if I recall right.

His try was one of the best I've seen a long time....simply sublime by the team

schools rugby

sydthebeat wrote: »

He came on at 15 if I recall right.

His try was one of the best I've seen a long time....simply sublime by the team

Raging i slept in ! I like Barrett, good super rugby player. How did Ranger do when he came on ?

Judgement Day

Ranger was good and it's a shame that he may be lost to the All Blacks if he can't get out of his contract with Montpelier.

thomond2006

He's not getting out of his contract in Montpellier, he is going.

Burgo

Klunk_NZ

Game 3 could see us breach 50

Rightwing

France simply aren't up to these tests, only a mug would back them.

On the otherhand, well done NZ.

Taco Corp

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

Game 3 could see us breach 50

Could very easily have done that today too. few missed opportunities.

Anyway...

Klunk_NZ

Ranger needs to be dropped. Signing a 3 year deal.... He would have been perfect for the 13 jersey when Conrad Smith begins to dip in form with age.

Rightwing

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

Ranger needs to be dropped. Signing a 3 year deal.... He would have been perfect for the 13 jersey when Conrad Smith begins to dip in form with age.

France simply aren't up to it, surprised to see a few mugs backing them.
Lions v AB's - what you reckon ?

Klunk_NZ

Rightwing wrote: »

France simply aren't up to it, surprised to see a few mugs backing them.
Lions v AB's - what you reckon ?

I can't see Gatland leading any team to beat NZ.

Rightwing

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

I can't see Gatland leading any team to beat NZ.

Well I'm a huge admirer of both Gatland & NZ rugby.

If any Lions team were primed to take NZ this is it. McGeehan was found wanting badly imo v a inferior BOKS. in 09. I think the Aussies will be all too easy.

Klunk_NZ

Whenever I write off the Aussies they surprise. Like when they 3-0d Wales or when they drew with the AB's. I've learned to never write them off.

Rightwing

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

Whenever I write off the Aussies they surprise. Like when they 3-0d Wales or when they drew with the AB's. I've learned to never write them off.

Absolutely... although I'd argue the 3-0 v Wales wasn't a major surprise.
They've a canny knack of punching above their weight (esp v NZ), but I do think they are well inferior to the Lions. Gatland may not be popular here, but the chap is a top, top class operator. 3-0 Lions and easy at that imo.

trouttrout

Rightwing wrote: »

Well I'm a huge admirer of both Gatland & NZ rugby.

If any Lions team were primed to take NZ this is it. McGeehan was found wanting badly imo v a inferior BOKS. in 09. I think the Aussies will be all too easy.

Why do you think the Lions are so well primed to take the best side in the world? Can I get an actual rugby based reason now rather than the usual cliche ridden nonsense

thomond2006

Rightwing wrote: »

France simply aren't up to it, surprised to see a few mugs backing them.
Lions v AB's - what you reckon ?

You obviously didn't watch the first test.

trouttrout

thomond2006 wrote: »

You obviously didn't watch the first test.

France were 8/1 for that test too, immense value for a team that is capable of beating anyone, including the AB's

trouttrout

Rightwing wrote: »

I think the Aussies will be all too easy.

Again, I'd ask you to try and back this up? I think the Lions will have an advantage in the front five but that's it. I don't know why you're making statements like this and not bothering to back them up with anything rugby related

thomond2006

Carter is back for the third test, while Picamoles is out along with poor ol' Michalak. Third test will be a very tough prospect for France.

Glass Prison 1214

thomond2006 wrote: »

Carter is back for the third test, while Picamoles is out along with poor ol' Michalak. Third test will be a very tough prospect for France.

So both teams will have a better fly half next week.

astonaidan

Really not liking the AIG on the front of the jerseys

Swiwi.

Here is the French team for test 3. PSA has made 8 changes.

Starting team: Dulin ; Huget, Fofana, Fritz, Andreu ; (o) Talès, (m) Doussain ; Chouly, Claassen, Dusautoir (cap.) ; Maestri, Flanquart ; Mas, Kayser, Domingo.

Bench: Szarzewski, Ben Arous, Ducalcon, Vahaamahina, Le Roux, Machenaud, Lopez, Bastareaud.

I am happy Szarzewski has been demoted. His play was merde last week.

Podge_irl

Michalak out of the 23. Not before time.