France news

for what it worth, here's the team for Canada.

Traille - Clerc, Marty, Mermoz, Rougerie (Captain!) - Trinh-Duc , Parra - Ouedraogo, Picamoles, Bonnaire - Millo-Chluski, Papé - Ducalcon, Servat, Poux

Replacement : Guirado, Barcella, Pierre, Harinordoquy, Yachvili, Estebanez, Médard

as expected, some fresh players getting in,more suprisingly he puts Rougerie on the wing (where he hasnt played for more than a season) and give him the captain role. Trinh-duc getting a second chance after his dismal performance vs japan (but there is no other FH...well there is Traille but he's a centre who tends to play FB!).

more importantly, Skrela is officially out and Doussain has been called to replace him: Doussain is not yet on the plane as has yet to play for Toulouse on saturday! Doussain plays mainly 9 for Toulouse (where there is the big shortage of SH , Elissalde has been even considered to play during the RWC) but can also help at 10.

Pity about Skrela's injury... I hope Doussain can finish his game for Toulouse unscathed!

It's like every big team is getting hit with more injuries this past week.
So at least none of us can complain that our sides have been unfairly disadvantaged. Ioane, Sheridan, Carter, Bakkies and now Skrela.

Rougerie is quite an unusual selection for captain on the wing but he is a seasoned campaigner and is the logical choice. He always looked powerful when he had the ball against Japan and he certainly has an aura about him. The other players will respect his leadership.

France seem to me to be the 'quiet achievers' in this RWC so far - along with NZ and Australia. That the Japanese threw everything at France and were nipping at the heels for a moment or two... France, in the end, simply put the foot down on the pedal again and blew them off the park.

Even with these disruptions I still believe France to prevail by around 35 points over Canada.

Is there a special rivalry between the two teams given the historical ties? If so, then maybe only a 20-25 point winning margin!

those extra couple of resting days will certainly help france to beat canada.
there is no particular rivalry between both teams - think most canadian players are from the english speaking part. Jamie Cudmore does have some history in France though and he's lucky to have some fellow clermont players in front of him!

Skrela is not big loss, hasnt impressed anyone during the summer games against ireland.
if doussain gets injured, I say it is time to call good old freddy michalak who has been playing decent rugby for the sharks I hear.

if they're shipping in another 9 they might very well use Parra as a back up 10. He played very well in that position for France when he came on against Japan after Skrela's injury.

Thought Canada looked competent this morning against Tonga.

They seemed very organised, aggressive in contact and speedy in the backs.

Both sides were (again) getting away with an incredible amount of nonsense at the breakdown. Tonga's scrum went well against NZ, and was solid against Canada too.

France v Canada could be an interesting game if France fail to show as they did against Japan.

another interesting match on the cards gents.

all in all this rwc is looking great!

And the Canadians will know what they're talking about.

aboot?

TheGreyGhost wrote:aboot?

GG, I've got a phone meeting with some Canadians this afternoon. That post means I'll be struggling to not giggle

If you can't hold it together you'll have to pop out to the washroom.

Just pretend you have Adam Kleeberger a-running at yer.

That should kinda help yer mind keep focused aboot things, anyways...eh?

Lièvremont

why the heck has he made so many changes? The pack is pretty much the second choice one (apart from Servat who needs more game time). Rougerie has played 13 all year, and suddenly he's back on the wing. TRAILLE at FB? Marty has never done anything remotely good for France. Lièvremont seems to be taking Canada very lightly to me, and I'm worried it could come back to bite him in the posterior. Doesn't he remember Italy? Good to see Mermoz in there though, hopefully he can stay fit for the rest of the tournament as the alternatives (Traille and Estebanez) don't bear thinking about.

He wasn't happy with the teams performance against Japan MfC. Maybe he's giving the other players in the squad a chance to put their hands up and put pressure on those that are currently deemed 1st choice?


...or is that too logical for him?

rugbydreamer wrote:He wasn't happy with the teams performance against Japan MfC. Maybe he's giving the other players in the squad a chance to put their hands up and put pressure on those that are currently deemed 1st choice?


...or is that too logical for him?

wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too logical. Plus a few guys did well against Japan (Naller, Yachvili, Medard spring to mind) and they haven't been picked either. Nope IMO he's decided to pretty much give the second team a go here, and that's a very dangerous strategy if you consider Canada beat Tonga so are obviously no push-overs. As a French fan I'm a bit worried about this one.

Well they've got a pretty strong bench if they start running into trouble, they have players liek Medard and Yachvili to call on.

I can see why you're a bit worried but I don't think Canada quite have enough to win this one. Any I think France's superior fitness levels will tell in the last quatert. It might be a bit of a stressful viewing though, but then it always is with the French!

yeah but I'd rather not have to wait until the last fifteen minutes of the match to see France finally pulling ahead, not sure I could go through that again. Problem with Bench strength is that it can backfire just as easily if you have to bring on replacements...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:Plus a few guys did well against Japan (Naller, Yachvili, Medard spring to mind) and they haven't been picked either.

Lievremont clearly doesn't agree regarding Yachvili:

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/149022.html

To be fair I thought Yachvili had a really poor first half for France, he only really came good when Parra came on the field.

never saw Lievremont more angry that after the japan game (and he was already in a bad mood at half time!).

the weird thing about ML it's that he doesnt have a problem in admitting that he's a bit clueless : he said something along the lines of "I dont know if its a management problem or something else and I dont know the solution of the problem either". embarassing...at least he's not arrogant.

I personally think that he should have stuck with a proper 1st team, would have released pressure off some players and create a better cohesion on the field. very important for the 8-9-10 positions.

during the japan 2H, most players were to blame specially the ones with experience who should have shown some leadership. Dusautoir although a leader by example and attittude does not have enough "big mouth" to be a captain. Harinordoquy was nowhere to be seen and Nallet was too concentrated in his own game. Yachvili wasnt good, most of his choices (kicking) were bad ... no mention to TD who played his worst rugby for year.

At least he hasn't made Pallison captain!!

Usual nonsense from Lievremont. The ABs will carve them to pieces.

The back row looks very good for a second string selection and the half backs are at full strength. Clerc is excellent on the wing.

France to win. I doubt it'll be comfortable though. They were so disorganised against Japan. Oh for a decent coach.

TheGreyGhost wrote:If you can't hold it together you'll have to pop out to the washroom.

& KWD, thank you for starting my (Canadian) work day with a laugh.

funnyExiledScot wrote:At least he hasn't made Pallison captain!!

Usual nonsense from Lievremont. The ABs will carve them to pieces.

The back row looks very good for a second string selection and the half backs are at full strength. Clerc is excellent on the wing.

France to win. I doubt it'll be comfortable though. They were so disorganised against Japan. Oh for a decent coach.

Except the team named is for Canada, not NZ.

I realise that, but my statement still stands. France will beat Canada, despite the selection for that game not being great, but will suffer against the ABs.

Lievremont has no idea of his 1st XV, their approach to this tournament has been chaotic, the players are not well drilled, the selections have been muddled (how on EARTH has Traille landed the 15 jersey!?) and Lievremont himself has confessed to not knowing what to do now. Makes the England set-up look a well oiled machine!

funnyExiledScot wrote:I realise that, but my statement still stands. France will beat Canada, despite the selection for that game not being great, but will suffer against the ABs.

Lievremont has no idea of his 1st XV, their approach to this tournament has been chaotic, the players are not well drilled, the selections have been muddled (how on EARTH has Traille landed the 15 jersey!?) and Lievremont himself has confessed to not knowing what to do now. Makes the England set-up look a well oiled machine!

Sadly at the moment I'm beginning to fear that Henry also has no idea of his 1st XV, and the AB's selections have been muddled.

Perhaps GH will try Guildford as cover for DC. Or maybe Mils, so he can play 100 tests, even though he's not nearly as good as Dagg on current form. Maybe Afoa?

i am in Canada.

They don't give a rats ass aboot rugby

Gatts wrote:i am in Canada.

They don't give a rats ass aboot rugby

Depnds wher you go. They turned off the baseball to put the England Ireland warmuo game on when I was in Nova Scotia

My brother lives in Edmonton and has been really happy that the RWC is getting plenty of coverage. Last time around he had to subscribe to some on-line streaming service to watch any of it.

On topic, I think France will have enough despite everything but Canada won't be a push over.

Gatts wrote:i am in Canada.

They don't give a rats ass aboot rugby

Made the CBC radio news this morning that they had won, and every game has been on TSN so far (I think). But generally your right, they don't give two hoots about it here at work and are more interested in the incredibly boring and repetitive upcoming Iced Hockey pre-season games. And don't get me started on Curling.

aitchw wrote:My brother lives in Edmonton and has been really happy that the RWC is getting plenty of coverage. Last time around he had to subscribe to some on-line streaming service to watch any of it.

On topic, I think France will have enough despite everything but Canada won't be a push over.

After having spent some of the weekend up in Edmonton your brother deserves a medal. Back on topic I agree that the French will have too much, although the Canadians will make them work for it as long as they are not too tired and sore after the Tonga game.

If Canada win against France they deserve a medal...but they are a slikely to win it as I am to spend a weekend in Edmonton

Gatts wrote:If Canada win against France they deserve a medal...but they are a slikely to win it as I am to spend a weekend in Edmonton

Victoria or Edmonton. I can see why that wouldn't be a hard choice to make.

french TH prop Nicolas Mas caught an injury while training - he should miss NZ game and possibly Tonga one as well which would leave newcomer Ducalcon as the only choice. If he doesnt recover before the QF it would be a huge blow (specially if its against England).