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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by LDiCesare
England 24 - 7 France
England played better, putting a lot of pressure on the French who made silly mistakes (Dominici cost a lot to the team, as the French had to weather the English during 10 minutes with one less player, and Betsen later). The English probably also teased them a bit (Magne, Dominici) which was very clever and very English. The French kicked poorly too, finding bad lineouts when the English kicked less and better. Wilkinson made a very good match, particularly with his drop-goals. Johnson also made a good game.
I hope there won't be rain for the final, but that would probably be good news for the English, as their pack has been very strong. It's a pity there was so much rain, because we could have seen a more beautiful game. |
Yes, it was an old-fashioned slog of a game. England adapted to the conditions, France couldn't. And their discipline let them down with Dominici and Betsen. Pity, because I thought the French showed good discipline early when the England forwards were obviously trying to provoke them into fights. It was also a pity that Michalak suddenly couldn't kick straight. France were just never in a position to confuse or frustrate England from the time they kicked the ball away in the first play of the match. Who knows what the outcome would have been without the rain? Still, it's a winter sport.
Next week will be interesting, particularly if it's dry. If we can build on last night's performance and apply the same pressure to England, especially while attacking them out wide, they've shown they're vulnerable. OTOH, if England control the game through their forwards, goodnight Wallabies.
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lightblue
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L'Boro, UK
Oct 2001
time: 05:31
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The main difference seemed to be that Michalak completely cracked under the pressure. If he had slotted a few of those first half penalties it could well have been a better outcome. His tactical kicking was poor as well.
One thing I have noticed about England, they never look like they are going to score tries. Aside from the games against the puny nations there seem to be very few players in the England squad that can find the gaps in the opposition line. Suppose if you have Wilkinson in the pocket you don't really need to score them.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
Good grief did Finbar’s witch doctor get that wrong – who ordered that weather? |
As I reported yesterday, it came a day early. It was forecast for today, Monday. The forecast for the rest of this week is for it to warm up again with the occasional shower. Electrical storms are common around Sydney at this time of year.
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Betsen was very unlucky to be carded for the late challenge I guess – |
I don't think it was cardable (to coin a word). I don't think George Smith's late tackle on Marshall was cardable either. There's a fine line between a late tackle and a deliberate late attack. Both Betsen and Smith were committed. The correct decision in each case should have been a penalty, as it was in Smith's case. I notice that Marshall is now, in his words, holding a grudge against George, saying that he felt he could have helped turn the game in the second half if he hadn't been hurt. Dream on, Justin, from the moment you got back to your feet you were gesturing to George and verballing him. You forgot your first priority. I wonder whether Nathan Sharp holds a grudge against Jerry Collins for the shoulder charge that concussed him? I doubt it.
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but where he did deserve it was for the rank stupidity of doing that right after a warning for not rolling away. |
That's the point.
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Interesting to see allegations of our forwards sledging the French forwards – that’s pretty much part of the game and if you think we are bad just listen to the Aussies do it.  |
I don't know about sledging, but the England forwards were certainly very busy physically provoking the French forwards.
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Backy stepped up to the occasion and had a much better game I think – and Hill did bring that go forward dimension? Dallaglio had his bets game yet as well. |
They all had better games because the conditions - and France's inability to deal with them - let England settle into their comfort zone. And once they do that, they're formidable. The teams that have frightened England have succeeded in preventing them from entering that comfort zone.
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Paddy O’Brien? Better than normal but still all at sea with mauls I think? |
I thought Paddy did pretty well in difficult conditions. He was certainly very consistent around the breakdown and rucks.
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So the 3rd/4th place play off will be a very good tempered affair – and the final I suspect most certainly won’t. |
The game that many - moi, included - thought would be the final. It will be an interesting test of the ABs' mental state.
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Two huge defences – ours the more vulnerable this tournament, two backlines that haven’t really fired perhaps and two packs going head to head where we should have the edge – a tasty prospect indeed.
The key for Eddie perhaps – one week to learn how to play without scrums. If England can draw the Ausies into scrums they will leak penalties and Wilko will certainly punish that. |
I think it's pretty simple, really. The Wallabies have to do exactly what they did against the ABs - control the ball, starving the oppo of possession; attack, wide particularly, keeping the oppo on the back foot; be patient; don't kick the ball away; and minimise handling errors. In summary, not letting England into their comfort zone. I mean, it's not rocket science. The challenge is to (a) be able to do it against a physically stronger side than the ABs; and (b) be able to maintain it. And if the Wallabies can't do it for sustained periods, and England is allowed to take control, the Wallabies are in trouble.
One of the most interesting personal battles will be The Plank -v- J****. The Plank had his best game for two years - some superb takes both in the lineout and from the kickoff - and I can't imagine him needing any more motivation to do it again than lining up against J****.
Oh, the vintage rugby Tests on FoxSports the other night was the 1989 Lions Tour. Of particular interest was the second Test at Ballymore. I'd forgotten how thuggish those Lions were. Whatever happened to David Young? The Welsh prop? The kicker of oppo heads? And the halfback Jones? Whose only game plan seemed to be to try to punch Nick Farr-Jones' head in at the first opportunity? It was interesting to see the current Tigers' coach running around with #8 on his back. He could throw a mean punch, too.
Last edited by finbar on 17-11-2003 at 04:41
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Caligastia
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
I never thought I would read something like that from you...
Ouch!... |
I was meaning that I support them against the aussies. I already know the result of the France/England game.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Tamerlin
You can be sure the game will be played under the roof of the Telstra Stadium... |
Wrong stadium. The one with the roof is in Melbourne. The final is played in Sydney at the stadium that was the Olympic stadium. There's no roof.
BTW, I heard this morning that Serge Betsen has been cited for kicking. I didn't see it during the match, did anyone else?
Edit. He's been cited for kicking Matt Dawson in the head while both were on the ground. I only remember Dawson bleeding copiously from the head and going to the blood bin.
Further edit. I notice that Fabien Galthié's retirement is immediate. He won't be playing on Thursday in the play-off for third and fourth.
Last edited by finbar on 18-11-2003 at 04:27
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
There is nothing I can say that will make it hurt less. I can only hope we lessen your pain by lowering the Aussie colours. |
Nothing short of a couple of kilos of something from Jamaica will make Tamerlin hurt less.
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I am not a fan of Paddy. |
Oh well, he thinks you drink too much, so you're about square.
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Well that is part of the game unless we are alleging violent foul play? It’s a mans game after all – the French are not complaining. England never cited Betsen the official did – and you can see no Englishman has been cited. |
I was merely noting the, um, phenomenon.
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Spot on – and could be key on Saturday. Personally I would love rain again – and I still think Eddie needs to find a way to avoid scrums? |
Avoiding too many scrums anyway. More importantly, keeping your forwards on the retreat and chasing.
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He also pinged Jonno for his habit of going in before the ball is out – not lost on you I am sure? |
I did notice. I think J**** has rushes of blood. I liked his response when he cursed, buried his head in his arms and cursed some more.
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Meaning no offence to “mes amis” I think the bigger question is how ‘up’ can France get for this game? |
Their 13 changes is the answer to that, methinks. And a new skipper.
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To be honest I can’t really add to that – you have it spot on. My big worry as an Aussie would be the front row and it’s ability to mix it after the injuries suffered? |
See above.
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Different era, different game. Deano is one of the most placid guys you could ever hope to see off a pitch. He was quite different on it. I’m not about to defend the tactics used – but I don’t care for the chip still carried by Aussies about it either really. They never handle foul play by their own players appropriately (remember the McCrae ‘ban’ for what was in effect Assault?) so it’s hard to take them crying wolf seriously – especially 14 years on. |
I was, again, merely nothing the, um, phenomenon. Though I have to say that I've rarely seen such coordinated foul play. Well, perhaps that Bok effort at Twickenham aside. So what happened to David Young? Oh, and Eddie's back reference to that match was plain stupid.
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Do the IRB control seat allocation this time Finbar? |
I think the IRB takes the cream, leaving the ARU to handle the rest. Oh, and the ARU is publicly regretting charging so much for the France and All Blacks Melbourne QFs. There were scads of empty seats at up to $250 a pop. Still, they're apparently going to exceed their budgeted $45 million profit.
And stop complaining about your seating. The ARU's first choice was to seat you in Long Bay Gaol.
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finbar
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Havak
I’d like to help Tamerlin out but that commodity sounds less than legal (possibly)? |
It's never stopped him before! 
quote:
Finally he gets something right. |
Yes, but he'd let you enter the ruck at the bar from the side.
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I wonder how Justin will react to the same phenomenon? |
Hopefully with the same discipline he showed last Saturday. He settled for jamming it up them with his efforts. And the odd gobful too, apparently.
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Turn the Lardies you mean? Yep that’s a game plan all right – it would work. Who are the tactical kickers – apparently Larkham is not the greatest reliever of pressure from his boot if Pienaar is to be believed? |
Yes, turn them, but also send them backwards by advancing, meaning ball control. Larkham is erratic these days. Used to be good.
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David Young – you mean Dai Young the Welsh Prop? Sorry missed this first time around. Remarkable guy in some ways, he captained the mid-week team on the 2001 Lions tour. I know he retired from International rugger shortly after that tour finished when Wales got buried by Ireland – and that he played for Cardiff in club rugby. I believe he has now retired full stop (he is at least 35 so I hope he has). I believe he was a young gun on the 89 tour and involved in several punch ups? |
It was his blatant kicking of the Wallaby head that bothered me. And the Wallaby player's colleagues who immediately went him for it. Lucky they didn't have citing by video in those days.
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Yes the 89 Lions used tactics better employed in a boxing ring. I agree totally. I cannot even condone it when it was the Aussies they beat to a pulp (joking!). The blatant assault on F-J by Rob Jones was as obvious as anything Krige did on his blackest day. Welshmen eh? |
It was interesting watching the interviews with the Wallaby players that bookended the replay. Farr-Jones, who said Rob Jones remains a good mate, still seemed bewildered by the whole event. Greg Martin, who was fullback, now a commentator, said they were expecting something, but not quite what they got. Martin was Campo's victim in that bizarre bit of Campo madness by the try line that cost the try.
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Wow! That’s a nice tidy profit. And that is ARU money not RWC ltd?  |
Yes, apparently the ARU take. The crowd figures have already topped 1.3 million.
Is it just me? Or has this site lost all its formatting? Again?
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16-11-2003 16:13
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