So Next Week France v New Zealand Final! ! !

Based on the 2 games this week end, you would have to say that the Web Ellis Cup belongs to New Zealand.

But the French being French, well you never know.

Although i would love to think that France could win next week, i realy cannot see it my self.

Well lets hope that the game next week throws up a few surprises, and New Zealand do not have it all their own way.

I honestly can't see any other result but an AB win, but you don't ever know with the French and possibly the AB's got themselves up for this match and might not be able to rouse themselves next week, you never know!! But al in all the AB's should lift the Webb Ellis next Sunday, mores the pity!!

Thanks warrior straight from the heart.
Amazing the last 4 is identical to 87. 1v 2. 3v 4.
Does that mean wales will rip oz with a conversion from the sideline as in 87 at Rotorua. Still remember that match.

Taylorman - I still remember that match and tournament with great pleasure as i made a fair amount on the back of AB wins and to be honest they were streets ahead of the rest, but then again it would have been a travesty if they were not, as the only professional side in the competition!!

However, i don't recall the 3rd place match but did enjoy the final even if it was one sided, and thought that david Kirk was superb and a real leader, even if he was a sub for Shelford. Found out that Zinzan was on the bench that day which surprised me, all in all a great period!

Blacks all the way for me I think. France never looked like scorinng yesterday and NZ have as strong a defence.

Let's hope it's a cracking game. Two sides 'capable' of tearing it up, with the French having a lot to prove.

However, with NZ's defence being so solid I just can't see where France are going to score from, even if they play really well.

SafeAsMilk wrote:Let's hope it's a cracking game. Two sides 'capable' of tearing it up, with the French having a lot to prove.

However, with NZ's defence being so solid I just can't see where France are going to score from, even if they play really well.

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I totaly agree with you New Zealand have been so tight in defence France will have to play so well. That no one will reconise them

It's gonna be a damp sqimb. France are woeful and not gonna get that much better...

I can't see any other result apart from a NZ win. Even if NZ implode (or choke if you will) I still think NZ will win, but it will only be by 5 points rather than 20+

going to be a cricket score

actually going against my usual NH bias to support New Zealand next week, France have no right to be in the final beaten twice in the group, overcame an out of sorts england and scraped home against a 14 man wales, hope the blacks put 40 past em!

All the same stuff was said before the 07 QF. The French fear the ABs, and often get hammered but sometimes that fear inspires them to great deeds. NZ need to get the foot on the throat early and keep it there. When they don't want to play that's when the floodgates can open. Just outplay them so much that variables don't come into play. Was very impressed when we outplayed Aussie to the extent that our poor goalkicking wasn't a factor (one variable).

Payback for 07 wasn't achieved in pool play as it wasn't a knockout game. This is. If we bring the intensity we had today, in which there was more than a little payback, and accompany it with focus then the game, and the Cup, is ours. But Henry will be covering every single base he can.

Any chance of getting Barnes in as ref to spice things up a bit?

gelodge wrote:Any chance of getting Barnes in as ref to spice things up a bit?

Why not? Then perhaps the AB's can put all the ghosts to sleep in the one match- choking, France Barnes the lot...

This is just a thought will any one actualy watch the final next week?

Or will you simply turn on at 1045 just as the game is finishing hoping to see the a big smile on McCaws face, or will it be a big grimace on his face.

In other words is it a forgone conclusion? Or is it a must see game?

How can any knockout game involving the French not be compelling viewing? Also you have the most complete team in the world against the most unpredictable. If that's not enough then maybe you should pick another sport!

Think of last World Cup. SA hammer England in the pool match and then scrape the win in the final. All the other games count for nothing!

I think the best way to beat France is do what we did in the pool match though. We have to attack and use our back three with space provided by the pack. When you score tries against France, they wilt mentally. Give them a sniff and they can raise their game. We must be ruthless and take the game by the scruff of the neck and bully our way to a win starting with the forwards.

We have the players to do it but it´s not going to be easy. What France has done so far is irrelevant. kia kaha

i think new zealand will win. I have said it from the start, and i have said it all throughout the tournament.

The ABs have a couple of bones to pick with France,

As much as I was massively impressed today - and what a birthday present by the way! - I'll never take France for granted.

1994
1995
1999
2000
2007
2009

They have won more than their fair share against us, and at times were they were written off.....so as much as I want to believe that it is going to be processional, I'll just remind myself of those losses over the last 17 yrs and know that it's not over until we beat them on the pitch next week.

CHUR!!!

"know that it's not over until we beat them on the pitch next week."

so you do know that its over??

Personally dont worry about france- they are shockingly bad at presnt- got let of the hook in a big way in the last two games- you guys will come out the blocks hard and win by 30 plus- it may even be seriously embarrasing for the poor frenchies

No, because we haven't played them yet!

What I am pointing out is that just after halftime in 1999, we thought we had the game won. The french didn't want to tackle Jonah, and we were 24-10 up.

In 2007, we were 13-0 up and then we fell apart.

I am not going to get sucked into the musings of the press this week. The french play their best when they are written off. We're in dangerous territory now, reagrdless of how poorly they have played up to this point

Happy birthday chewed mintie. Stayed up hours today wrapping your present. Hope you enjoyed it!

it was a joke dont worry . i am happy to right france of because i am a neautral, and even if i am wrong, im not gonna loose any sleep-

However if i wasnt a neautral i wouldnt be writing anyone off.

And the last thing we want is that Allain Rolland,letting France score a try while Richie was trying to get an explanation as to one of his penalties.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Happy birthday chewed mintie. Stayed up hours today wrapping your present. Hope you enjoyed it!

it was brilliant! i put up on facebook that I'd received a text from Richie McCaw simply stating "hope you enjoyed your present", and the responses I got!

Normally would be supporting France - can't next week.

NZ have played the rugby - cmon NZ

NZ 44 France 9

It has all the signs of bring a stroll in the park for nz. The French have been abject except for 20 mins against nz and 40 against England. Yesterday was they showed control but it was more of a controlled cluelessness.

However
1 Once nz dont get it into their heads that today was their final
2 It was Carter who ripped France apart for that 15 minute spell in the pool game..guess who is missing next week
3 Its France and NZ will be very nervous

I can't see why anyone would not want the No.1 team in the world to win the World Cup, it's not as if they haven't been patient!

PJHolybloke wrote:I can't see why anyone would not want the No.1 team in the world to win the World Cup, it's not as if they haven't been patient!

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Been Patient?

Well put it this way if,if they do not win next week after waiting 24 years to win it for a second time.

Then if i was the All Balcks coach/spokesman i would have to say that the All Blacks will no longer take part in any interntional games.

All Blacks should win by 15+

Hi Biltong, if New Zealand don't crush France next Sunday I'll be absolutely feckin livid, 15 is nowhere near enough IMO.

25 points minimum, anything less will devalue this World Cup ( TGG?).

Hi PJ, yes I tend to agree with you, but hell do you really think France wll have another poor game?

By the sounds of it the players have now gotten to the point where they pay little if any attntion to Lievremont's opinions or directives.

Maybe just maybe this will pull the players together and they will play for some pride.

It will be a blight on the French nation if this goes the same way as their football team at the 2010 FIFA world cup.

Yes Biltong, France will crumble next Sunday, they are incapable of stringing anything of substance together and the fact they now seem totally "divorced" from Lievremont will serve no other purpose than to relagate them to ritual lambs.

They beat England because they were less worse than them, they beat Wales because..... well, we all know why they beat Wales, but they will not beat New Zealand for two reasons:

i) New Zealand are red hot.
ii) France are shoite.

The third place play-off is a far more interesting prospect as a game.

Yeah, look France won't beat the All Blacks, I don't think they can for many reasons, but if New Zealand win by more than 20 points it will be a disaster of a final, well perhaps not for New Zealand, but for the IRB.

if the all blacks don't win this i will be astonished, ab by 20 points imo,the wales v aus game will depend on which team can get up mentally after their disappointment's

I couldn't agree more Biltong, but it WILL be a total disaster, unfortunately for all of us fans, so the IRB can kiss my a£$e,

The IRB have only themselves to blame, it's their competition.

While we're on the subject of winning, if either of us are fortunate enough to finish top 3 in the 606 SG league, do you have a shirt preference?

I guess you wont want first dibs on the Ockers shirt?

Not sure I get it. Whay would a 20 point win be a disaster for the IRB?
Its happened before- 99 and 87 France also lost by 20 or more. Were they disasters?

I mean if people didnt want France in the final then their teams should have beaten them...isnt it that simple? Whats the IRB got to gain out of any of this??

English Warrior,All Blacks the only professional team 1987 ?come off it .Shamateurism was rife back in the 1970 sonwards in Europe especially.
I987 was JOINTLY staged by AUS/NZ ,Aus had won two matches pre RWC v
NZ and were at least Joint-favourites.
France have bumbled into the Final,BUT they have a good setpiece,.defence,
goalkickers,and backs.
So it is by no means a forgone conclusion,Weepu has been rubbished for his iffy goal kicking today.BUT having just buried a relative and apparently getting over the FLU.
He played pretty well,had a 94% average coming into the match,and is still 75% overall.
Past failures will keep there feet on the ground,hopefully the same team will
start next week.
NO key players in the stands saved for the SF like in 2007

Taylorman wrote:Not sure I get it. Whay would a 20 point win be a disaster for the IRB?
Its happened before- 99 and 87 France also lost by 20 or more. Were they disasters?

I mean if people didnt want France in the final then their teams should have beaten them...isnt it that simple? Whats the IRB got to gain out of any of this??

Taylorman, I would think a runaway victory will have no suspense or drama. It is difficult to be enthralled by a match that has no competitivenss to it.

PJHolybloke wrote:While we're on the subject of winning, if either of us are fortunate enough to finish top 3 in the 606 SG league, do you have a shirt preference?

I guess you wont want first dibs on the Ockers shirt?

I wasn't aware there are prizes, what choices are there?

Oh and there is certainly no way for you to miss out?

biltongbek wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Not sure I get it. Whay would a 20 point win be a disaster for the IRB?
Its happened before- 99 and 87 France also lost by 20 or more. Were they disasters?

I mean if people didnt want France in the final then their teams should have beaten them...isnt it that simple? Whats the IRB got to gain out of any of this??

Taylorman, I would think a runaway victory will have no suspense or drama. It is difficult to be enthralled by a match that has no competitivenss to it.

Oh yup.
It might then mean less people will watch and lessen advertising power during the week also I suppose..
I thought there was something tangible about a big win- sponsors crying off last minute perhaps might be one...

The improvement that France are going to need to get close to the AB's is massive. They scratched a one point win against 14 men with a shambolic line out, poor kicking and poor decision making.

Can France do it - yes. Will they, very unlikely. I predict a poor, one sided game.

The nothing game between Australia and Wales ?? Now that could be a cracker.

biltongbek wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:While we're on the subject of winning, if either of us are fortunate enough to finish top 3 in the 606 SG league, do you have a shirt preference?

I guess you wont want first dibs on the Ockers shirt?

I wasn't aware there are prizes, what choices are there?

Oh and there is certainly no way for you to miss out?

Three shirts , one each for the top three - Australia, Fiji or Samoa, there's still 7 points to play for so no, it ain't over yet by any means.

I can feel your hot breath on the back of my neck though, and that's uncomfortable on so many levels I wouldn't know where to start.

PJHolybloke wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:While we're on the subject of winning, if either of us are fortunate enough to finish top 3 in the 606 SG league, do you have a shirt preference?

I guess you wont want first dibs on the Ockers shirt?

I wasn't aware there are prizes, what choices are there?

Oh and there is certainly no way for you to miss out?

Three shirts , one each for the top three - Australia, Fiji or Samoa, there's still 7 points to play for so no, it ain't over yet by any means.

I can feel your hot breath on the back of my neck though, and that's uncomfortable on so many levels I wouldn't know where to start.

sorry about that, I had garlic last night.

Nah, I personally would like the Samoan shirt.

If I get a choice I'll go Fiji.

Emack2- With regard to amateurism in that 87 World cup, i was just reading an article by a Welsh Hooker who played in that competition and he said without any irony that the AB's were better than the rest because they were the only pro side. I'm sure that people like John Gallagher was a Policeman and did walk the beat, but was it only for photo opportunities.

Good luck to the AB's but they were Not amateur in 87 and whats more everyone knows it. It wasn't even shamateurism, but like MCaw they got away with it , but they were pro in all but name!! I thank you.

english warrior wrote:Emack2- With regard to amateurism in that 87 World cup, i was just reading an article by a Welsh Hooker who played in that competition and he said without any irony that the AB's were better than the rest because they were the only pro side. I'm sure that people like John Gallagher was a Policeman and did walk the beat, but was it only for photo opportunities.

Good luck to the AB's but they were Not amateur in 87 and whats more everyone knows it. It wasn't even shamateurism, but like MCaw they got away with it , but they were pro in all but name!! I thank you.

Dead wrong EW. The only ABs in the 80s who got paid to play were the handful who spent the off-seasons in France or Italy (notably Haden & Kirwan). And plenty of NH players were doing similar. Craig Green was working the day after the final.

I'll grant you the '87 ABs were professional in attitude. But they weren't getting paid to play for NZ, so I'd lay off the slander.

GavinDragon wrote:actually going against my usual NH bias to support New Zealand next week, France have no right to be in the final beaten twice in the group, overcame an out of sorts england and scraped home against a 14 man wales, hope the blacks put 40 past em!

me too