france-tonga match thread

[whocares]

First topic message reminder :

3-3 after 7 minutes with very physical Tonga side causing a lot of problems to french defense with a few good phases.

[whocares]

3 tongan against medart : odds of not scoring a try must be reallly low!

[eirebilly]

Missed again. I hope that they dont come back to bite Tonga in the bottom

[LordDowlais]

will this make any difference to the group ?

[Countnefarious]

That's that then: 10 points in 4 minutes? You'd have to be really French to manage that.

[Guest]

I've lost count of how many wasted chances Tonga have had this 2nd half.

Incredible performance by them.

[Guest]

Dowlais - think Canada would have to beat NZ with a try BP, the commentators mentioned something like that in the 1st half anyway.

[TheGreyGhost]

https://www.606v2.com/t14961-great-weekend-ahead#538057



I'll wait for RubyGuby's apology for calling me psychotic.

[whocares]

nice to see Tongan front row so excited and smiling in the scrum

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Is this most ludicrous end to a test ever?

[LordDowlais]

Cheers Dreamer, looks like France are through then. This is a great performance by Tonga though.

[Countnefarious]

nice to see Tongan front row so excited and smiling in the scrum

I thought it was bloody annoying.

[majesticimperialman]

I cannot believe the way france are playing. I was expecting france to score atleast 20/30 points today.

Well played to Tonga they realy have upset the apple cart, every body i know was expecting France to win, and to win very easy.

[dubh_linn]

Wow well done tonga only saw last ten but they could have had two tries.....france very very lucky to get bp and not kicking that last penalty...mental!!!

[TheGreyGhost]

Fantastic stuff. Unlucky for whoever will play France in the Qfinal...

[LordDowlais]

This was Tonga's world cup final, the pacific island teams have come on leaps and bounds. If they could get some structure between them and make a sort of 10/12 team league between Samoa,Tonga and Fiji these countries could become big hitters in world rugby.

[robbo277]

I loved the ending, mainly because I had Clerc in my fantasy team!

Only caught the last 15 minutes but it was fairly poor by France. Tonga showed a lot of heart in the bit I saw, although some of their execution left a little to be desired. Short of Canada beating New Zealand, Tonga have just qualified for 2015 with that result.

If only Tonga had some sort of rest period between their game with NZ and their game with Canada, maybe this result could have seen them make the quarter-finals.

[Guest]

Super by Tonga! Thought France had done themselves in not going for the penalty kick at the end, but they got the score, the LBP was all they needed.

Tonga were just amazing though, blydi well loved their front row and how much they loved the scrums! If they could learn to finish off all their chances they would be a v v dangerous side to play against (even more so then they are!)

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

https://www.606v2.com/t14961-great-weekend-ahead#538057



I'll wait for RubyGuby's apology for calling me psychotic.

Yeah fair play to you there, I have been questioning why people have such fear of France in this WC but never expected them to lose this. To get soundly beaten ...wow.

France really are a shambles, its up to England to earn the relativley easy quarter final now.

[robbo277]

Let's be fair through, the LBP would have guaranteed them qualification, but the ONLY way they would have been knocked out (when it was apparent that Tonga wouldn't get the 4 tries) would have been if Canada had gone on to beat New Zealand. It probably didn't even register as a possibility.

[TheGreyGhost]

Much the same story as Samoa robbo.

Predictable though it was, it's nice to see the first of the Pacific Island teams delivering on the promise at this RWC. Samoa were desperately unlucky to get Ownen's for SA, and lose Pisi in the short turn around for Wales.

It annoys me that the NH press are treating it like some kind of shock and saying France should be embarrassed. Why? Tonga are a very good side, as they showed against NZ in the second spell of the opener.

With any luck this will motivate the Fijians. Although I think they lack the structure to beat Wales.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Yeah Robbo I think the ITV guys were making too much of the need for an LBP. France played for pride at the end there.

Its a pity in a way that Tonga didnt chase the TBP but given how many chances they butchered

[whocares]

well done to Tongaa.
France is the team that less deserves to be in the QF. that's says it all.

no positives to take from this game (the scrum was ok but that's about it). dont see that team improving anymore and getting away from this sheer mediocrity, it's all over, would have rather see tonga in QF rather than france getting a beating from england or whoever.

[Guest]

I think they mean France should be more embarrassed by their performance as apposed to the result TheGG, I mean they were just shocking.

And I don't like the first part of that last sentence!

[TheGreyGhost]

With McCaw, Carter, Dagg and Read out of the AB game tomorrow, perhaps Canada might cause an upset. Is there no statistical chance for France to go out now at all?

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

[quote="TheGreyGhost"]

It annoys me that the NH press are treating it like some kind of shock and saying France should be embarrassed. Why? Tonga are a very good side, as they showed against NZ in the second spell of the opener.

Wales gave New Zealand a tough game once, you think its not a shock to the english press every time they win a game still?

[doctor_grey]

Just woke up and watched the last 10 minutes.
Metinks, its time to go out and buy Tonga jersey.
How great is this?

[Guest]

no not at all now GG, if they hadn't have scored a LBP, Canada would have had a chance, but that point has guaranteed them qualification I do believe.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

With McCaw, Carter, Dagg and Read out of the AB game tomorrow, perhaps Canada might cause an upset. Is there no statistical chance for France to go out now at all?

If Canada get a bonus point they are level on points, France go through on head to head. If Tonga had won with a TBB and denied france and LBP then they would have gone through on head to head.
As it is France go through

[Davie]

Metinks, its time to go out and buy Tonga jersey.

Buy it from the 606v2 shop - you'll make Hobo a very happy man

[TheGreyGhost]

Just wait until England go for a red jersey and buy that...

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Just wait until England go for a red jersey and buy that...

Dont Tonga have to pay royalties on the red ones to Wales since they own the colour?

[doctor_grey]

Metinks, its time to go out and buy Tonga jersey.

Buy it from the 606v2 shop - you'll make Hobo a very happy man

Good idea. Forgot about that. Still amazed about the result.

[Gatts]

Sacre bleu....are there any French posters on here tonight?

[HammerofThunor]

Done it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-454438/Seeing-red-Englands-new-World-Cup-shirt.html

It's quite funny that some some on here asked why can't they use red as that would make sense with the flag. But then it's been done and complained about

[TheGreyGhost]

Just wait until England go for a red jersey and buy that...

Dont Tonga have to pay royalties on the red ones to Wales since they own the colour?

I think Tonga were wearing red when Wales were still wearing black. Clearly the royalties should go the other way.

[sportform]

The bonus point rule is stupid and this group proves it.

Hypothetically, Canada could beat New Zealand, have a better record than France, two wins, a draw and one defeat compared to two wins and two defeats but still go out how does that work?

Even Tonga have been stitched up by this rule. They have the same record as France and should be ahead of them on head-to-heads yet they are two points behind.

[Knowsit17]

A new low France are officially capable of reaching. Though we know they're capable of being a top class side by all means.

What is it about French rugby? Four years back they're thwarting NZ and now they're losing out to Italy and Tonga in the same year!

It's easier by the game to see why Lievremont won't be retained, what with his phobia of fielding a side that looks too much like the last, even during World Cups.

[Guest]

on that performance looks like england have nothing to fear next week

[Gatts]

on that performance looks like england have nothing to fear next week

on that performance looks like france have nothing to fear next week either

[Guest]

touche

we got the job done, and france have looked poor all thoroughout, whereas we have looked convincing in the majority of the games.

[Gatts]

touche

we got the job done, and france have looked poor all thoroughout, whereas we have looked convincing in the majority of the games.

convincing....that is the most unconvincing description of a team's performance. I expect politicians to be convincing, I expect England to be destructive, organised, potent, lethal and downright well drilled. Not convincing and I am not convinced. My point is neither team are convincing, both have more class and both will be ready to up their game.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

I dunno Gatts i think England have convinced everyone they wont win the wolrd cup

[Gatts]

Well they often just do enough, they just did that. France are revolting, Ireland or Wales will test them but they know how to win ugly. If they make the final and face ABs sans Carter and mcCaw then they could. Not the boks though.

What they definitely are lacking is mature seasoned players. Seems to be a lack of rugby brain out there.

If they do win it wil be with anti rugby, but the W is all that matters...isn;t it?

[doctor_grey]

I expect politicians to be convincing,

Poor demented soul.

[Nos na Gaoithe]

touche

we got the job done, and france have looked poor all thoroughout, whereas we have looked convincing in the majority of the games.

Have you actually watched any of the games? The argies had England rattled for most of the game and the only time England got close to the argie line (and then across it) came from a fairly dubious penalty that they then kicked to the corner.

Then against scotland they are losing right up to the final 5 mins... and really only won because Scotland were out on their feet from trying to chase an 8 point win.

Glad to see some of the other England posters have their feet on the ground. England should just be glad that the french are in equally poor form.

[TheGreyGhost]

Are France the first team in history to lose two pool games and still qualify?

[Rollmeister]

Nope, Fiji did in 1987. The only other time it's happened.

[TheGreyGhost]

Nice work.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

ah but 1987 wasnt a real world cup, was is tgg

[emack2]

Watching the Tonga v France match,lots of big hits and a Tongan yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
France seem to be playing by numbers,maybe they`re just not interested in playing for Lievremont.
I t v coverage is doing my head,25 minutes about England v Scotland pre match.A10 minute of Haskell in the wilds plus interview.
Fine i`m an Anglo -Scot but I want sensible debate on the match i`m about to watch,not ater one.
Must say there`s nothing like the cheap shots we had in the Samoa v Boks game[at least up to half time.
Tonga going well,puts the all blacks v Tonga match a bit in perspective now.

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