Ireland v France 11/10/2015

[Oldschool]

In hindsight is it possible that POC started the game with a slight niggle.

[nelly the elephant]

Ireland beat France how you have to beat France - up front, no other team reacts so poorly to their pack being beaten up as the French do. For all the joys of their back play during the 70s and 80s, French rugby is about the forwards. It always has been.

In the run up to this game we were all worried about how what we believed to be a fitter, more organised French team would play. But at the final whistle it became obvious that this french team's gains in fitness were purely relative to other french teams. In absolute terms Ireland ran them into the ground. The pace we played at in the second half was just a level they couldn't deal with. They then had to change everything they were certain would be key to a French victory - they believed in Michelak and T-B - changed. They believed in Basteraud - changed. They believed in their strength in depth, yet we were able to replace leaders, captains and game managers without missing a beat. In short, we took everything they believed about this fixture and turned it on them, we hammered the hammer.

Talking to a couple of their supporters on the train back to London after the game, this is what upset them most. The fact that we beat them up(up front), particularly in the second half. To a man they bemoaned the "lack of fight".

[simonokeeffe]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

[Peg Leg]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

I assume you've forwarded this to the relevant authorities?

[simonokeeffe]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

I assume you've forwarded this to the relevant authorities?

I tweeted Dave Cahill right away, so yes

Lets just hope they do the citings in the same gyspy caravan park they do the rankings in

[All Blacks nil]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

wouldn't have thought that SOB was that easily provoked.
Had to be something else to it.

if not it was beyond foolish.

[Oldschool]

The French call Henderson a four wheel drive Tractor.
Not sure how that looks in French.
By all accounts NZ could be in for a rough ride on Saturday.

[nc6000]

SOB cited.

[simonokeeffe]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

wouldn't have thought that SOB was that easily provoked.
Had to be something else to it.

if not it was beyond foolish.

maybe he thought a 120kg lock with a penchant for violence wouldnt be felled by pink belly

[johng]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

wouldn't have thought that SOB was that easily provoked.
Had to be something else to it.

if not it was beyond foolish.

Rumour is that pape was interfering with his dangly bits. Where that rumour originates I dunno.

[simonokeeffe]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

wouldn't have thought that SOB was that easily provoked.
Had to be something else to it.

if not it was beyond foolish.

Rumour is that pape was interfering with his dangly bits. Where that rumour originates I dunno.

as the rumours were a finger in the jacksie I am going to have to strongly advise you to see a physician if your Hooper is dangly, I know for a fact Bails' Japanese doctor is over for the world cup

[cormac]

https://twitter.com/stuartbartley/statu ... 6963402752

[domhnallj]

as the rumours were a finger in the jacksie I am going to have to strongly advise you to see a physician if your Hooper is dangly, I know for a fact Bails' Japanese doctor is over for the world cup

According to the urban dictionary he has a pink sock. Defo see Bails' man for some advice.

[Oldschool]

I rewatched the start, Pape pinched/groped SOBs backside at worst but SOB didnt fully clench his fist and didnt connect with front of knuckles (like how youd punch someone properly)

Pape also stays down until France get the ball back and was ok to take part in a lineout on our 22

wouldn't have thought that SOB was that easily provoked.
Had to be something else to it.

if not it was beyond foolish.

Rumour is that pape was interfering with his dangly bits. Where that rumour originates I dunno.

It's called getting your rumours in (out) first.
Something else to think about.
Having jacksied poor Sean (The poor Sean campaign has to start somewhere) just imagine where/who Pape placed the offending digit/digits on afterwards both during the game and following the game. Who did he shake hands with for example>
Draw up a list and try to get the citing official and committee names onto it. That should get Sean off unless they do him for not giving Pape a proper dig.

[Peg Leg]

https://twitter.com/stuartbartley/statu ... 6963402752

I actually attempted to press play on that screen grab

[VGE]

The French game plan was based on targeting Sexton, after 25 minutes he was gone. Along with Sexton, so went the French game plan. They were simply out thought and out fought by a team they could not beat in the last 4 seasons.

Our provincial teams dont fear French club teams anymore and that is reflecting at international level now.

There was no game plan.

There was no game

There was no plan.

There was a poor French National Team that fought with his physical brain. We are not brainless, we are physical. Sometimes.

Au revoir.

[VGE]

Sorry, I forgot one little thing: Ireland was really great.


Au revoir.

[simonokeeffe]

not sure Guy Noves going to be much better, he might at least though want to play some rugby

France need a coach to come in and say no more project players in the team, or at least impose a strict limit on it say 2 in the 23 man squad
Would help stir up patriotism and support

[Dexter]

not sure Guy Noves going to be much better, he might at least though want to play some rugby

France need a coach to come in and say no more project players in the team, or at least impose a strict limit on it say 2 in the 23 man squad
Would help stir up patriotism and support

Clubs control rugby in France, club control has increased, national team has declined.
Clubs control rugby in England, England don't qualify from their group.

[Oldschool]

not sure Guy Noves going to be much better, he might at least though want to play some rugby

France need a coach to come in and say no more project players in the team, or at least impose a strict limit on it say 2 in the 23 man squad
Would help stir up patriotism and support

Clubs control rugby in France, club control has increased, national team has declined.
Clubs control rugby in England, England don't qualify from their group.

Clubs control rugby in Wales but WRU trying to re-establish control, Wales qualify.
There's a separate, post RWC, thread in your post.