Game over....or is it...Anyone want to discuss the final or is it a foregone conclusion

First topic message reminder :

Now it might be a certain lack of French supporters on here but clearly the vast majority of people think the final is a foregone conclusion. Even Paddy Power is paying out on an AB win.

Is it really a foregone conclusion or is the discussion only around the usual if boring "we dont know which french team will turn up"

So what are the ABs facing....

1. France the nation that have knocked them out dramatically in two of the world cups.
2. France the only NH nation to have won a series in NZ and beaten the ABs three times in a row.
3. France the last NH team to beat NZ in NZ.
4. France who first beat NZ in 54 but have beaten them 11 times since the 70's (the last Welsh win was in the 50's to put in context)
5. France the most consistent (yes consistent) team in the 5ns and 6ns since the 70's. Their first tournament win was in 68 yet they have 10 Grand Slams since then with multiple tournament wins.
6. France who everyone says have been abject, poor and useless....but still they are in the final.

Although we all like to classify them as inconsistent and liable to fall on their own sword it is clear from the stats that this is just a made up. In the last 40 years they have been the best team of the NH...

No one expects them to win....in fact most people expect a slaughter...

is that really going to happen...

Casartelli wrote:The biggest anti-climax in sports history.

The only way France can compete is if the ref sends off 3 ABs in the first 5 mins for tackling too hard.

Otherwise, NZ by 15-20 - and if Carter was playing it would be 25-30.

If Hayman, Collins, Rush, Kelleher and Evans were playing it would be a margin of 50.

yes of course. 4 out of the 5 were in the losing team of 2007 yet somehow since then have become better players than the current all blacks in the final by playing 4 years of nh club rugby.
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