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[LDiCesare]

French selection? You mean Toulouse? Toulouse is a very good team.

The fly half shouldn't have been Skrela, but the other players both got hurt. Skrela is still good, but probably not top-notch under pressure and not the best kicker. Our best hopes there are in my opinion Beauxis, but he's playing full back most of the time at Paris, and Michalak, who's just back from South Africa and who will share his time with Skrela at Toulouse.

The back line looks good, though it remains to be seen how Baby will play at centre, since he hasn't played center for at least 2 years, playing full back instead.

Elissalde is our best scrum half and a correct kicker.

The back row is a bit light against Argentina. Harinordoquy is past his best, even though he's supposed to be in good shape. Picamoles is a bit light too.

Second row should be ok, although Millo-Schlusky (or whatever the spelling is) may have a hard time since he's not used to international level. He has enough experience with Toulouse to be able to handle this I hope. And there's Chabal as a back-up, but I don't think he'll make a difference. Argentinan scrum will cause him to suffer a bit (and his prop even more) when he comes in if they have the opportunity.

Front row is inexperienced at this level. We definitely need to blood some new props, but they'll be facing one of if not the best front row in the world, so it will be hard.

I tried to find the Argentina starting team but couldn't find it. I suppose they will play more or less the same team as during the world cup, which means I am less than optimistic concerning the outcome.

[Havak]

Oops - I forgot about our resident hooker. No offence intended.

[finbar]

Yes, but he's also a fly half, isn't he? A fly half-hooker? So he can only be half offended.

The Argies seem not to have named a team yet. Though Fabien Galthié is now in the Argie camp as technical adviser, obviously determined to prove that he, not Marc Lièvremont, should have been the French coach.

[LDiCesare]

I played scrum half, not fly half. I played a whole half time as a fly half in my life, but several seasons as a scrum half before settling as a hooker.
(edit:it means that I'm only half_lunatic )

Galthié already knows half the team since most of them played at the Stade Français.

This test-match actually looks like a selection from Stade Français + Montferrand vs. Toulouse.

[finbar]

My apologies. Scrum half. I seriously underestimated your skills. Not to mention your 360° vision.

[Havak]

As I shall be watching the experimental England side getting decapitated tomorrow I will have to rely on your view of the Boks versus Wales Finbar.

I'm particularly interested how Smit fares at prop. Even I wouldn't treat the Welsh coal face so lightly as to moonlight a hooker at prop. Jenkins may not be the force he was in 2005 anymore but he should eat Smit alive at scrum time.

The likely second string ABs versus Scotland is a late kick off that should provide some light relief.

I'm out tomorrow night so unless I am very lucky won't see the Pumas take on France.

[finbar]

In fact, I just came here to post to the effect that the programming this weekend is ridiculous. I've got Wallabies -v- Azzurri kicking off at 2.30pm (my time) tomorrow with both Taffys -v- Luke Watson's Bosom Buddies and Wasps -v- Head Hunters kicking off at 3.30pm (my time). I don't have three TV sets and I haven't yet organised Sky Life that would let me record one and watch another. Which would still leave me missing one game. Normally the programming is much better than this!

The Taffys certainly have to be in with a chance. It depends which version of the Luke Watson Fan Club turns up. They managed to be both abysmal and terrific in the Tri Nations. There was just no knowing which, although it became fairly evident within the first ten minutes.

[Havak]

Oh bad luck there. having to miss the Wallabies to watch Wasps (because naturally you will want to see the better game?).

I'm guessing either the Ireland or Scotland game will be available for you at 6:15pm (your time) though?

I've just been arguing with a Saints fans that I would have prefered a younger and more talented mid field tomorrow rather than two tanks. I seem to be out of step with many England fans. Some seem to rate Noon. Sure he tackles hard but I want to see a little bit more than that offered by my outside centres.

I'm keen to see Crofty up against such physically powerful oppo though. He is deceptively strong for a lad who looks rather willowy (according to Mr Corry).

[finbar]

I get the Haggis Munchers at 6.15pm followed by Les Grenouilles. Why didn't they shift one or more of these matches to Sunday? If it was the doing of the respective Home Unions, the IRB should have said something. Still, at least Sky Sports Italy is loaded with rugby on the day. And I just checked the replay situation. On Sunday, they replay the Haggis Munchers -v- The Land Of The Long Tattoo about three times.

The Italian free-to-air station LA 7 shows all the Azzurri matches so that's how I get to watch the Wallabies.

I fear for Tom Croft's noggin. The thing I've always liked about the PIs is that they're devout Christians, praying before and after the match, yet their sole intent, usually, is to decapitate the oppo. I'd like to see a more interesting centre combo too but at least Noon's defence will come in handy when some of those big lumps come crashing through the midfield.

[Havak]

It's more likely to be the broadcasters I would have thought - there is no love lost between the BBC (the Welsh game) and SkyUK (England game) that is for sure. What can the IRB really do when the respective Unions are the ones who sell the rights?

It is going to be an interesting day tomorrow that is for sure. Jonno will be judged heavily on how Flutey fairs I think. And I hope Crofty has a resilient noggin too.

[finbar]

If I were forced to choose between being boiled alive in oil and watching a replay of France -v- Argies, I'd gladly light the fire under the oil and dive in head-first. I suppose any win against the Argies is a good win for the French these days but it was dire. From both sides. An exercise in bad kicking. Basta!, as they say around here.

Taffys should have beaten the Boks. Should have. Massive territorial and possession advantages in the second half. But when it came to the crunch, when precision was required, when crucial decision-making was required, they weren't up to it. The Boks, by comparison, didn't actually do much over the course of the match but they did what they did clinically. That was the difference. And the Boks will get better. Good, finally, to see du Preez and Pienaar together at #9 and #10. Classier than Januarie and Butch James ever were. Big game from Andy Powell on debut, though.

The Haggis Munchers were, yet again, much ado about nothing. As always, big attacking flurries, the ball zipping around, and coming to nothing. Frank Hadden yet again bemoans the team's finishing. You did last year too, Frank. They're just not good enough. All Blacks B gave them an absolute lesson in power, control and penetration. Even if the ABs have finally found a prop - Jamie Mackintosh - who rivals the lesser Wallaby props - which is to say, the entire Wallaby prop contingent - for poor technique.

Wallabies B fell in against Italy, saved by an extraordinary solo try by Quade Cooper making his debut. Italy were mighty strong and very well organised, which is becoming a trademark under Nick Mallett. They frustrated a Wallaby B midfield that too often sank itself with indecision and poor handling. Nice debut from prop Ben Alexander. Wasn't embarrassed in the scrums, even if it wasn't the strongest Italian front row, and very effective in the loose. It was actually a very difficult match to follow thanks to the Italian director, obviously more used to covering s*****, who alternated between vast wide shots, in which the players were ants, and extreme close ups. I often had no idea who was doing what to whom and where.

Only caught glimpses of Wasps -v- Head Hunters. Armitage at #15 looked more than useful though I didn't see enough of the context of the game. Wallabies A will need to improve vastly on Wallabies B's efforts if they're not to get rolled next week.

[finbar]

Bugger. Berrick Barnes' and Tiamana Tahu's tours are both over with knee and hamstring injuries respectively. That's two #12s gone in one hit, even if Tahu was never going to be more than a bench player. The only options left are to pursue what was started against the ABs - two #13s paired in the centres, Mortlock at #12, Ryan Cross at #13 - or young Quade Cooper starting at #12. All of which puts even more pressure on Matt Giteau at #10. Berrick Barnes was also his back up. If Giteau now falls injured, it will be young Quade Cooper, or, gasp, Stirling Mortlock calling the shots.

[LDiCesare]

France Argentina was indeed not a beautiful match. The Argies were never menacing. They miss Pichot at 9, and Hasan in the front row.
I didn't understand some of the ref's decisions. I wonder why he penalised the French scrum when Barcella had been munching his opponent for the whole first half.

But then the French scrum managed to lose the ball twice on its introduction!!! And behind, Elissalde and Picamoles repeated the same 8 pick up the ball too often, leading to the big number 8 getting tackled and one more wasted scrum. Retières should have them work the scrum and let them vary the game more.

By varying the game, I also mean that the fly half should, sometimes, pass the ball. I wish Trin-Duc hadn't been hurt, he would have played more I suppose. Or Michalak. Most likely, the coaches saw the weather, were mighty afraid of Argentina, and gave instructions to kick the ball and keep the opponent far from our posts Still extremely frustrating to see Malzieu and Médard have only one ball with which to run in the whole game. Not to talk about Heymans who had something like no offensive opportunity. Pity. Sure it's a win, but an ugly one. The good thing is that the back row fared better than I thought they would.

[finbar]

Originally posted by LDiCesare
By varying the game, I also mean that the fly half should, sometimes, pass the ball.

Well, yes. Just once would have been nice. But the thing was, the kicking was so bad. Just boot it anywhere into the other half. I wouldn't have minded if there were some strategy to it with chasers.

[Andydog]

Originally posted by finbar

The Haggis Munchers were, yet again, much ado about nothing. As always, big attacking flurries, the ball zipping around, and coming to nothing. Frank Hadden yet again bemoans the team's finishing. You did last year too, Frank. They're just not good enough. All Blacks B gave them an absolute lesson in power, control and penetration. Even if the ABs have finally found a prop - Jamie Mackintosh - who rivals the lesser Wallaby props - which is to say, the entire Wallaby prop contingent - for poor technique.

I was fairly satisfied with the AB midweekers. Four tries to none, albeit the tries coming from Haggis Muncher ****-ups rather than flowing AB attacking moves. It was our iron clad defence that won that game. Donald looked much better than he did against the Aussies, and I was well impressed with Nonu. His distribution was sublime it looks like he is developing some fantastic vision. I think you might need to apologise to him as well as Toeava, finbar.