France vs Romania, 23 September

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FRANCE v ROMANIA
23 September 2015
KO: 20:00 BST
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Live on ITV4 (United Kingdom)

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 1; Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 2; Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Sofiane Guitoune, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Rémi Talès, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Yannick Nyanga, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Bernard le Roux, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (c), 1 Vincent Debaty

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Eddy Ben Arous, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Yoann Maestri, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Frédéric Michalak, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud

Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu, 14 Madalin Lemnaru, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Florin Vlaicu, 11 Adrian Apostol, 10 Danut Dumbrava, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Mihai Macovei (c), 7 Viorel Lucaci, 6 Valentin Ursache, 5 Johan Van Heerden, 4 Valentin Poparlan, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Otar Turashvili, 1 Mihaita Lazar

Replacements: 16 Andrei Radoi, 17 Andrei Ursache, 18 Horatiu Pungea, 19 Ovidiu Tonita, 20 Stelian Burcea, 21 Valentin Calafeteanu, 22 Ionut Botezatu, 23 Csaba Gal

That was a great try for Romania.

That it was, they deserve that.

Majesticimperialman ( cannot quote as I'm on a phone )

It does make you wander indeed , Rugby officials used to be excellent . Seems to be a rapidly declining standard .

Shame that Romania are tiring a bit now. Good line from Fickou though.
France have been nice and efficient in their two games so far; nothing fancy but very effective. Maybe this is their year??

France did enough, Romania battled hard.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Why does Morgan Parra not get more starts for France?  Anyone?

He's too cool?

What was with Fickou after he scored France's last try? I've never seen someone look so unhappy after scoring. Was he unhappy at the performance despite the win? Or did someone die??

whocares wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

Espee66 wrote:That was a bloody double movement   No try for me .

Same here. Make's you wander what the TMO is actualy looking at.

does it count as double movement if the player doesnt crawl?

I think it might be one of those laws where it's interpretation is basically up to the ref. I think you're generally allowed to place the ball within a reasonable time after being tackled as long as you don't move your torso. The law says you have to place the ball immediately after being tackled, but if you compare that to a similar law - the tackled played must release the ball "immediately" - it's clear enough that the word "immediate" isn't applied precisely in rugby, the ref will play the situation by ear and allow maybe a few seconds in each case for the act to be completed, depending on the surrounding players. For France's try, there were no Romanian players available in a position to steal the ball for example, so I think the call was fair enough. He didn't move his torso, only his arm.

clivemcl wrote:What was with Fickou after he scored France's last try? I've never seen someone look so unhappy after scoring. Was he unhappy at the performance despite the win? Or did someone die??

Serious determination. No fun just next game?

clivemcl wrote:What was with Fickou after he scored France's last try? I've never seen someone look so unhappy after scoring. Was he unhappy at the performance despite the win? Or did someone die??

I wasn't paying 100% attention but wasn't there one of those slightly cheap shots where a defender falls elbow first on to the guy who has just scored?

kunu wrote:

whocares wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

Espee66 wrote:That was a bloody double movement   No try for me .

Same here. Make's you wander what the TMO is actualy looking at.

does it count as double movement if the player doesnt crawl?

I think it might be one of those laws where it's interpretation is basically up to the ref. I think you're generally allowed to place the ball within a reasonable time after being tackled as long as you don't move your torso. The law says you have to place the ball immediately after being tackled, but if you compare that to a similar law - the tackled played must release the ball "immediately" - it's clear enough that the word "immediate" isn't applied precisely in rugby, the ref will play the situation by ear and allow maybe a few seconds in each case for the act to be completed, depending on the surrounding players. For France's try, there were no Romanian players available in a position to steal the ball for example, so I think the call was fair enough. He didn't move his torso, only his arm.

Call me old fashioned, but wouldn't it be nice to reward defenders for taking players down short of the line? Rather than giving every opportunity to award a score. I enjoy watching a scrambled defence almost as much as a try.

Ireland should really target that French scrum. Atonio and Debaty are very average scrummager by international level standards.

Though i do rate Lazar the Romanian 1 as one of the best scrummaging loosehead in the top 14.

clivemcl wrote:

kunu wrote:

whocares wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

Espee66 wrote:That was a bloody double movement   No try for me .

Same here. Make's you wander what the TMO is actualy looking at.

does it count as double movement if the player doesnt crawl?

I think it might be one of those laws where it's interpretation is basically up to the ref. I think you're generally allowed to place the ball within a reasonable time after being tackled as long as you don't move your torso. The law says you have to place the ball immediately after being tackled, but if you compare that to a similar law - the tackled played must release the ball "immediately" - it's clear enough that the word "immediate" isn't applied precisely in rugby, the ref will play the situation by ear and allow maybe a few seconds in each case for the act to be completed, depending on the surrounding players. For France's try, there were no Romanian players available in a position to steal the ball for example, so I think the call was fair enough. He didn't move his torso, only his arm.

Call me old fashioned, but wouldn't it be nice to reward defenders for taking players down short of the line? Rather than giving every opportunity to award a score. I enjoy watching a scrambled defence almost as much as a try.

well if you'd humour me, and take that logic to the extreme - that could mean that you're not allowed to place the ball in front of you once you're tackled. The French 14 didn't move himself forward at all, just placed the ball in front of him, in a situation where there were no Romanian players there to form a ruck or contest for the ball. No denying the craic to be had watching a good scramble though!

VinceWLB wrote:Ireland should really target that French scrum. Atonio and Debaty are very average scrummager by international level standards.

Though i do rate Lazar the Romanian 1 as one of the best scrummaging loosehead in the top 14.

That massive tight head is fairly rubbish in the scrum though. The first choice props are a fair bit better. I thought France were very predictable around the park, which is good for Schmidt. Romania also got a good bit of success out of an aggressive rush defence- hopefully Kiss can ditch the weird half drift thing we do for the game!

Ben Arous and Slimani are excellent props, think you can get the better of the subs but would do well to get on top of those 2 at the scrum

SecretFly wrote:

clivemcl wrote:What was with Fickou after he scored France's last try? I've never seen someone look so unhappy after scoring. Was he unhappy at the performance despite the win? Or did someone die??

Serious determination.  No fun just next game?

Fickou had a really bad game with plenty of dropped balls prior his try. The centres were transparents not helped by an useless flyhalf. The basics were not there. Players were walking to the rucks. 12 penalties conceded , the list goes on...
Given there was 13 substitutions prior this game I will just remember the score and try to forget the rest.

Thought Romania played well for a long period of the game. Better than I expected them to be. France pushed on to win comfortably in the end. Don't think there is too much in this group to trouble France or Ireland. I think Romania could give Italy a good game.

Impressive with the Olympic Stadium. Looked a pretty good atmosphere on the tv.

Get out of bed on the wrong side this morning, whocares? Bloody hell, you are 2 out of 2 and have given most of your squad a good run around.

Can't see it happening anytime soon with the Six Nations' teams having a monopoly on the international fixtures but would like to see a European Championships every four years in between the World Cup.

I thought there was? Maybe not every 4 years like the world cup but I did think there was a 2nd tier competition.

kunu wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:Ireland should really target that French scrum. Atonio and Debaty are very average scrummager by international level standards.

Though i do rate Lazar the Romanian 1 as one of the best scrummaging loosehead in the top 14.

That massive tight head is fairly rubbish in the scrum though

Reminds me of Rodney Ah You of 3 or 4 years ago, decent impact off the bench but useless at the scrum. Speaking of Ah You i don't get why he wasn't selected over Furlong in the Irish squad.

whocares wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

clivemcl wrote:What was with Fickou after he scored France's last try? I've never seen someone look so unhappy after scoring. Was he unhappy at the performance despite the win? Or did someone die??

Serious determination.  No fun just next game?

Fickou had a really bad game with plenty of dropped balls prior his try. The centres were transparents not helped by an useless flyhalf. The basics were not there. Players were walking to the rucks. 12 penalties conceded , the list goes on...
Given there was 13 substitutions prior this game I will just remember the score and try to forget the rest.

I saw them as quite comfortable, whocares - and maybe that in itself lowered the concentration levels.  Yep, not forgivable in coaching terms at all but there you go, they did the damage when they knackered the Romanians.  
It's all you can do.  No need for the 70s and 80s.  No, I'm impressed enough by France.  In recent years you knew when they were playing badly, the performances and results told you....and no, it wasn't subtle.  It was just obviously and bluntly bad performances.  
Now they can have a 'bad' performance and still look interested, inventive and dominant.  I'd say the French are happy enough with progress so far.  Nothing is ever perfect.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:I thought there was? Maybe not every 4 years like the world cup but I did think there was a 2nd tier competition.

I think there is one for the tier 2 teams. Would like to see the Six Nations teams in it too to give the likes of Romania, Georgia more experience against the top teams.

kunu wrote:

clivemcl wrote:

kunu wrote:

whocares wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

Espee66 wrote:That was a bloody double movement   No try for me .

Same here. Make's you wander what the TMO is actualy looking at.

does it count as double movement if the player doesnt crawl?

I think it might be one of those laws where it's interpretation is basically up to the ref. I think you're generally allowed to place the ball within a reasonable time after being tackled as long as you don't move your torso. The law says you have to place the ball immediately after being tackled, but if you compare that to a similar law - the tackled played must release the ball "immediately" - it's clear enough that the word "immediate" isn't applied precisely in rugby, the ref will play the situation by ear and allow maybe a few seconds in each case for the act to be completed, depending on the surrounding players. For France's try, there were no Romanian players available in a position to steal the ball for example, so I think the call was fair enough. He didn't move his torso, only his arm.

Call me old fashioned, but wouldn't it be nice to reward defenders for taking players down short of the line? Rather than giving every opportunity to award a score. I enjoy watching a scrambled defence almost as much as a try.

well if you'd humour me, and take that logic to the extreme - that could mean that you're not allowed to place the ball in front of you once you're tackled. The French 14 didn't move himself forward at all, just placed the ball in front of him, in a situation where there were no Romanian players there to form a ruck or contest for the ball. No denying the craic to be had watching a good scramble though!

Well.. interestingly your response has only made me think more. Putting the ball in fron of you when you hit the deck is the opposite of what is normally done anywhere else in the game. How about a rule like 'once the ball touches the ground, it cannot be moved forward'. So you can fall/dive with an outsretched arm over the line, but you cant hit the deck and then stretch.

WIth the weight and speeds and momentum these days - you almost have to make the tackle 5 meters off your line to ensure you have safely avoiding conceding score.

Defending on your line is very difficult to do, and its just my personal preference but id rather see defense rewarded.

But of course, I'm well aware in the world of entertainment - more points equals more 'watch-ability'.

I think we might have discussed this recently, sportform.
Sadly,self-interest comes into this. The likes of Scotland and Italy cannot afford to risk any new kids on the block in case we get chucked out the 6N because we are pish and add little to it. Even if the 6N teams put in the B sides which would have the benefit of giving the back-up players exposure at a higher level than the Pro12.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Get out of bed on the wrong side this morning, whocares?  Bloody hell, you are 2 out of 2 and have given most of your squad a good run around.

That's a good summary of the positives
Still I feel that France has been involved in two of worst / less entertaining games since the tournament started!
Even PSA is getting angry:
http://snpy.tv/1ix0UBm

whocares wrote:
Still I feel that France has been involved in two of worst / less entertaining games since the tournament started!

It had a lot to do with the opposition too, Italy and Romania with all the respect i have for them are both very restrictive and fairly unexciting sides.

Read on another forum that Romanias perfomance could be key to future fixtrues against France.

No source but " "The FRR has been in talks with the French union for some time to schedule one test every year between the two nations. For that to happen, the Oaks have to be competitive in the direct match at the RWC, so the staff will try to target that game." -> according to FRR general manager. "

Fingers crossed they showed enough.

In the old days when the IRB didnt want us we used to play them a lot. At least once a year till the early 90s (we lost a few time to them between the 70s and 1990). We grew stronger together but professionalism and the fall of communisn came along which almost destroyed Romanian rugby. Those guys need funding because with a 8000 player base they are not going very far.

That is fantastic if it comes to anything, Golden. But I thought the French club owners resented the 6N let alone letting players go for another game

Ye would be great if true but difficult to see another fixture been worked into the calendar or the FFR giving up the cash from hosting a more 'glamorous' team.

Take it with a pinch of salt though, it only came from another forum. It could be complete fiction.

majesticimperialman wrote:

Espee66 wrote:That was a bloody double movement   No try for me .

Same here. Make's you wander what the TMO is actualy looking at.

Was the forearm smash to the Romanian player not also illegal?