France v Wales: Build-up and match thread

[Ospreydragon]

First topic message reminder :

A very interesting opening weekend in the 6N. Good wins for Ireland and England, and a great one for Italy, who showed some nice touches and are devloping their play (unlike Wales).

Here's a typically hyperbolic journalist (or sub-editor's headline) in today's Express:

"Rob Howley Planning to Dump Failures"

http://www.sundayexpress.co.uk/posts/view/375256/Rob-Howley-planning-to-dump-failures

Nothing in the article to state who is going to be dumped, and no surprise there.

Will Howley have the cojones to drop some players? Jenkins, Shingler, and one of the centres? We'll see!

[profitius]

Was Halfpenny tripped there??

[wales606]

Ryan Jones

the kick and the turnover

[t1000advancedprototype]

RYAN!

[mystiroakey]

Come on wales keep the pressue up!

[Cari]

No, just lost his footing I think. Possibly due to the crap turf...

[wales606]

Arggg

stupid scrum

Paul James, Paul James, where art thou?

[thebluesmancometh]

France pen before the ball isd in...

Ref there is no contest allowed until the ball is in!!!

[nathan]

Awful tackling by French, they look uninterested again.

[wales606]

Awful kick by Phillips

[t1000advancedprototype]

Why throw it away?

[Cari]

To be fair, the scrums aren't being helped by the poor turf and wrong calls...

[wales606]

Paul James coming on

[tatterd]

Mike Phillips triple facepalm

[Cari]

eeewwww - terrible slow mo shot of a fat Frenchman's gut...

[nathan]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

[thebluesmancometh]

Both teams are way too nervy!!!

North just took the game by the scruff, he needs others to go with, I'd rather see us lose trying to win it than win trying not to lose!!!

[mystiroakey]

These two teams keep having brainfarts.

It's like neither want the win.. Wish I picked the draw..

[Cari]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

Did Bastereaud tip-tackle Biggar then?

[Cari]

Oh flocking hell!

[t1000advancedprototype]

North having a poor championship so far.

[nathan]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

Did Bastereaud tip-tackle Biggar then?

Not at all, his bum hit the floor first!

[wales606]

Really frustrating,

especially at 6 - 6

[tatterd]

I've never seen so many attacking phases get NO ground

[Cari]

Bastereaud injured...quick! get him off!

[thebluesmancometh]

WHY ARE WE KEEPING IT SO TIGHT????????

Give the wider things to think about, especially when Trin duc and Michalak are out there, not to mention Huget's defence!!!

We are playing way too safe, and drawing or winning this like this will not help us V Italy!!!!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Deary me. These are two bad teams short on confidence. The standard of rugby is dreadful.

[Cari]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

Did Bastereaud tip-tackle Biggar then?

Not at all, his bum hit the floor first!

Aye...shame really...

[HammerofThunor]

I think all scrum penalties should be against France as it's their ground

[wales606]

Scrum is a nightmare

We need Alun Wyn Jones back

[HammerofThunor]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

Did Bastereaud tip-tackle Biggar then?

Not at all, his bum hit the floor first!

Aye...shame really...

You want Bigger to risk a broken neck? A bit harsh

[nathan]

I'm hoping the Ireland England game isn't as nervy as this.

[bsando]

This match feels like a typical Scotland vs Italy game. A draw would be pretty rubbish for both sides I think, obviously better than losing, but they'll both be bottom of table going into 3rd week.

[thebluesmancometh]

The only way one of these teams will win is a pen from distance!!!

I'm sick of watching this tripe, if your nervous best thing to do is just go for it!!

Who is going to provide the magic for Wales? Noone, but I see a moment for france

[nathan]

Wales 5 straight in at the side.

[Cari]

Bellies gonna get ya! Lol

Did Bastereaud tip-tackle Biggar then?

Not at all, his bum hit the floor first!

Aye...shame really...

You want Bigger to risk a broken neck? A bit harsh

Where did I say that? Don't put words into my mouth. I was hoping that Basteraud would have got sent off for a while. But it wasn't so he wasn't and no injuries either...off you go.

[thebluesmancometh]

Attacking scrum...

[wales606]

French scrum...great

Just give them the shot at goal

[Cari]

I'm hoping the Ireland England game isn't as nervy as this.

It'll be nerve wracking for the fans, but not for the players as this is...

[wales606]

France putting some more weight in the pack

[thebluesmancometh]

french LH hasnt bothered binding all night, and he's winning pens!!!

[Cari]

I thought that was Sonny Parker for France then!

[Barney McGrew did it]

Disgraceful by both teams - just when we were telling everyone the 6N is exciting. Think I'll go shampoo the dog.

[bsando]

Yeah someone for Wales needs to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck. There's 15mins left to go, you feel a converted try would seal the deal. Come on Wales!!

[nobbled]

That pitch is disgraceful.

[Cari]

As long as that converted try isn't by a French player Bsando!

Tempers freying now too...

[t1000advancedprototype]

Scotland v Wales 07 has some serious competition!

[nathan]

That pitch is awful, it's worse than the millennium stadium.

[thebluesmancometh]

Binding? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Shut up Jiffy I'm right!!!

[wales606]

Welsh penalty from the scrum!

Paul James side too, call from the touch judge I think.

Gives Wales a chance to sneak this match

[Cari]

That pitch is awful, it's worse than the millennium stadium.

Much worse... although you'd think the Welsh boys would be used to a choppy pitch then...

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