Rugby - Ball's Out!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin




True, France has the means to win but they have not shown much skill, especially the backs. The French team can boast that they certainly have the best defense but they should remember that while it is a good thing to prevent the opponent from scoring the goal of the game is still to score more points than the other team. I know that France can beat the English in Paris but if England play the way it has played in last twenty minutes against Wales... France will lose as our backs are unable to score.

Yes, but les black puddings have hardly been waking the scoreboard attendants from their slumbers recently. Cripes, it could be a nil-all draw.

[LDiCesare]

True, France has the means to win but they have not shown much skill, especially the backs.

I don't think it's lack of skills as much as lack of coordination. Traille and Jauzion started showing they knew how to play together. Michalak is better when not following a plan, and Elhorga and Brusque obviously don't anticipate one another actions properly. If they worked and talked together more, they might be able to attack better. I don't think they've had time to work that however.
I believe that putting a lot of pressure on Olly will be the way to go (sending Magne and Harinordoquy charging him with the ball a few times for instance). Kicks should make sure to aim the lineout the opposite side from Robinson.
The big problem for France is probably Yachvili. If Dawson puts pressure on him, he'll start kicking like crazy, and should he give the ball to Robinson, bad things may ensue.

Flipside: Make sure to win by lots of points just in case.
But beware. Despite being abysmal almost everywhere, the Scots will be motivated and are rather good in lineouts. Their hooker will probably not throw towards O'Kelly.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

I don't think it's lack of skills as much as lack of coordination.

Though I think you are right (most of the players make a good performance each week with their own club) I still think that our players are less technical than those of the other major nations. A few years ago the players from the Southern Hemisphere were far superior to us in the physical area, the Northern nations thus put the emphasis on this matter in order to get on par with the aliens coming from the other side of the world. As far as France is concerned I think that our coaches became so obsessed by the physical power of the players that they lessened the technical workload in order to increase the physical training... something we are paying nowadays.

Michalak is better when not following a plan...

Unfortunately, Bernard Laporte seems to be very rigid on this ground and I think that he is somehow punishing the players that are taking too much personal initiatives.

I believe that putting a lot of pressure on Olly will be the way to go (sending Magne and Harinordoquy charging him with the ball a few times for instance).

Isn't it Serge Betsen's job?

The big problem for France is probably Yachvili. If Dawson puts pressure on him, he'll start kicking like crazy, and should he give the ball to Robinson, bad things may ensue.

You tell me so!

[finbar]

Look, I don't care how you do it, just beat them!

That aside, an interesting snippet in the press this morning. Jonny Wilkinson made a quick trip to New Zealand this week to talk to winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca about joining Newcastle in the English league. Having represented Fiji, Caucau can't represent the All Blacks, his S12 salary with the Auckland Blues is only around $NZ75,000, topped up by about $NZ20,000 from his club payments. The NZRFU has refused to increase his money and he has knocked back an extension of his contract at the end of this year. Lord knows what he could earn in the NH.

Oh, and a couple of French clubs are chasing him, too.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by finbar
That aside, an interesting snippet in the press this morning. Jonny Wilkinson...

You mean Sir Johnny Wilkinson...

...made a quick trip to New Zealand this week to talk to winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca about joining Newcastle in the English league. Having represented Fiji, Caucau can't represent the All Blacks, his S12 salary with the Auckland Blues is only around $NZ75,000, topped up by about $NZ20,000 from his club payments. The NZRFU has refused to increase his money and he has knocked back an extension of his contract at the end of this year. Lord knows what he could earn in the NH.

Oh, and a couple of French clubs are chasing him, too.

Why recruiting players coming from the other side of the world?

We have so many young players waiting to be given an opportunity to show what they can do... and moreover we have to train young players for the national team.

That said NZ$75,000 does not seem very high for a player of this level, I think that he can easily double or triple his monthly salary in the Northern Hemisphere... if not more.

[LDiCesare]

Isn't it Serge Betsen's job?

No, Betsen's job is to tackle Olly when Olly has the ball. The idea is that the other third rowers, instead of rushing into a strong big experienced English forward would be better inspired to run straight towards Olly so he tackles them, presumably opening a hole for Michalak and the centers to play into.

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by LDiCesare

No, Betsen's job is to tackle Olly when Olly has the ball.

What an awful mistake of mine, I have mixed up things here, Serge Betsen's job is of course to chase and tackle the Fly Half...

...in this caseThe idea is that the other third rowers, instead of rushing into a strong big experienced English forward would be better inspired to run straight towards Olly so he tackles them, presumably opening a hole for Michalak and the centers to play into.

This is what were saying two of the coaches in the Midi Olympique, it will be interesting to see if they will do it and how the English will try to counter them.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Why recruiting players coming from the other side of the world?

Quick fixes. Trying to buy success.

That said NZ$75,000 does not seem very high for a player of this level, I think that he can easily double or triple his monthly salary in the Northern Hemisphere... if not more.

That's the whole point. Relatively speaking, the Kiwi S12 money isn't all that good. Those who also play for the ABs obviously earn a lot more on top of their S12 money. But Caucau is in fiscal no man's land in the sense that he's tied to playing rep rugby for Fiji, they're pretty much bankrupt, and they don't play many Tests. So staying in New Zealand means he can't earn any more than he's currently earning. He would earn at least four times more in the NH. There's no doubt he'll go to the NH, it's just a matter of with whom.

Allez Les Grenouilles!

[LDiCesare]

Ireland beat Scotland, which surprised noone. The surprising thing is that the Scots managed to get back to 16-16 after the half time. They ended up taking 37 points if I've counted well.
Now...
Half time France 21 England 3.
I must make a few apologies over Yachvili. He scored a very very neat scrum half try right after the English finally managed to score 3 points, and just before the half time, which is good for morale. Let's hope the French keep playing well.

[LDiCesare]

Wheeew... France 24 - 21 England
A nice comeback from the English in the second half. I bet Havak will find the referee to have been laxist. The English players certainly did, shouting "Who's calling the offside?" and arguing with the ref and touch judes. Nothing unusual, though. The French probably made mistakes that weren't whistled, but none that warranted a red card (hint).

[C0ckney]

got back about 30 minutes ago from watching it, we just left ourselves with too much to do in the second half, it could have all been so different if someone had bothered covering the blindside just before the break

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
Wheeew... France 24 - 21 England
A nice comeback from the English in the second half. I bet Havak will find the referee to have been laxist. The English players certainly did, shouting "Who's calling the offside?" and arguing with the ref and touch judes. Nothing unusual, though. The French probably made mistakes that weren't whistled, but none that warranted a red card (hint).

I've only heard the scores and brief summaries of the game. It sounds like you almost let it slip! And, presumably, Tamerlin will prefer to walk backwards, naked to Paris before he'll thank the little Romanian or Georgian or wherever he's from for saving his backside.

Havak? Complain about a ref? Never ...

[Tamerlin]

I must admit I was very surprised by Dimitri Yachvili who produce a very good performance today until the last twenty minutes when he started to play as before and became once again the ordinary player I have always complained about... Very curious...

IMO the French players started to underestimate the English and commited the sin of pride when they lost an important scrum near the English try line in the second half. Though the French team was still leading something like 24-6 I became worried because I felt they were overconfident...

[finbar]

Still, the most important thing is that, unlike last time, they turned up to play!

[LDiCesare]

Still, the game showed that Clive made several big coaching mistakes. Letting Grewcock play when his back obviously ached just led to a first penalty. Not having Catt enter sooner was also a mistake, as he tried to use Tindall to relieve pressure on Barkley, but Tindall doesn't really kick as well as Catt.
The French almost lost the game because they were quite unable to keep the ball in some rucks and mauls in the secnd half. A lack in protection of the ball which clearly cost the first try.

A comment about Ireland-Scotland: The most annoying thing for Scotland is that, although their tactics were okay, the individual performances of the players, particularly at tackling, were quite poor. This means the Scots simply lack skilled players, and I can't see new ones pop out of nowhere anytime soon. Whereas the Welsh can improve their defense, the Scots seem unable to do so, so I believe they'll still be in for the last place in th tournament next year unless of a miracle.