Well, yes, Andydog called it right indeed. The ABs at their scintillating best. Where have they been hiding it? The French had no counter to an oppo playing them at their own game - who can counter the ABs swarming like that? - though the French defence left much to be desired. Little organisation, very casual, leaving acres of space on the outside in particular. Count the number of times the ABs scored via the outside. Let the ABs get outside your defence and you're history.
Dupuy had a shocker - not just with the boot - which didn't help things. Marty is a waste of space. He made one solid tackle, was never remotely in position to make others he should have, and contributed nothing in attack. Jauzion needs someone better outside him. Like David. Traille starts at full back because (a) of his boot; and (b) he's usually solid under a high ball. But he's a back stop rather than a springboard. I don't think Medard's a winger, either.
Anyway, no 6 Nations team is going to be remotely as dangerous as the ABs, so, the French habit of self-destruction aside, I can't see anyone threatening France starting in February. Famous last words.
The Scots certainly won't threaten. The Argies only proved what a fluke the win over the Wallabies was. They haven't got a clue how to penetrate a defence.
Speaking of the Wallabies, like the All Blacks, where have they been hiding it? I didn't get to see or listen to it, but it reads like they finally stopped kicking away possession and, using the scrum and back row dominance as a platform, used the ball to attack. Shaun Edwards' supposed defensive wizardry was, apparently, non-existent. I'm convinced kicking away the ball had been a chosen Wallaby tactic - dominating just about everywhere on the park and playing a territory game. Bizarre. It cost them a Grand Slam against, Ireland aside, mediocre opposition.
Ireland were fiercely determined against an indisciplined, tired Bok effort in which they - the Boks - couldn't even get their one-dimensional kick and chase game right. Steyn had a shocker. I was glad to see Sexton doing well. The kid has real talent. The Ireland scrum is a very serious problem - the young openside looks out of his depth, even if he's strong in the loose - and it will bring them undone, against the French in particular.
Italy brushed aside a disappointing Samoa scoring two tries in the process. They did it without Sergio Parisse, who is going to miss the 6 Nations. Others lifted to fill the void. Still, yesterday's two tries totals three for the autumn internationals. Two more than England. 'Nuff said.
France and Ireland aside, it's not going to be a 6 Nations of any quality. Not for the first time.
Dupuy had a shocker - not just with the boot - which didn't help things. Marty is a waste of space. He made one solid tackle, was never remotely in position to make others he should have, and contributed nothing in attack. Jauzion needs someone better outside him. Like David. Traille starts at full back because (a) of his boot; and (b) he's usually solid under a high ball. But he's a back stop rather than a springboard. I don't think Medard's a winger, either.
Anyway, no 6 Nations team is going to be remotely as dangerous as the ABs, so, the French habit of self-destruction aside, I can't see anyone threatening France starting in February. Famous last words.
The Scots certainly won't threaten. The Argies only proved what a fluke the win over the Wallabies was. They haven't got a clue how to penetrate a defence.
Speaking of the Wallabies, like the All Blacks, where have they been hiding it? I didn't get to see or listen to it, but it reads like they finally stopped kicking away possession and, using the scrum and back row dominance as a platform, used the ball to attack. Shaun Edwards' supposed defensive wizardry was, apparently, non-existent. I'm convinced kicking away the ball had been a chosen Wallaby tactic - dominating just about everywhere on the park and playing a territory game. Bizarre. It cost them a Grand Slam against, Ireland aside, mediocre opposition.
Ireland were fiercely determined against an indisciplined, tired Bok effort in which they - the Boks - couldn't even get their one-dimensional kick and chase game right. Steyn had a shocker. I was glad to see Sexton doing well. The kid has real talent. The Ireland scrum is a very serious problem - the young openside looks out of his depth, even if he's strong in the loose - and it will bring them undone, against the French in particular.
Italy brushed aside a disappointing Samoa scoring two tries in the process. They did it without Sergio Parisse, who is going to miss the 6 Nations. Others lifted to fill the void. Still, yesterday's two tries totals three for the autumn internationals. Two more than England. 'Nuff said.
France and Ireland aside, it's not going to be a 6 Nations of any quality. Not for the first time.
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