Rugby
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Yup!
I could hardly believe my eyes when turning on the computer I saw France was leading 16 - 0 after the half-time. What a game in the end! Let's see what the southern countries will do tomorrow. Tough luck to have to get up so early to watch the games… -
i am thinking France will be going to the finals with all blacks which is a bit scary
Yeah. The problem is, France is too unpredictable. You never know how they will handle the pressure and if they will play a good game. They may well lose against Wales, this year they have lost against Italy and Tonga…
My guess: France - NZ in the final round and the kiwis will bring it at the final with a special haka that will scare the French shitless. Or, maybe the French do not get scared and...
Anyway, the best half is always the third, so let's be happy about that! -
I thought M. Bougard said he didn't drink?! I reckon he's still lying under a table somewhere recovering
Alors M. Bougard? M. BOUGARD?!Yes Here I Am in full effect. To tell you the truth, this was such an ugly win I did not feel like celebrating. I'll celebrate when we win the RWC. Given NZ's display of force, agility, grace and intelligence on Sunday, I dont know how we can win on Saturday. Especially since I'll be in New York for the final and I dont know if they are showing Rugby there. So without me pushing and yelling, the French dont stand a chance… Now, having said that and showed the compulsory humbleness and all of that BS, there is a 15% chance (that's according to bookmakers) that France can produce yet another miracle. I was more into the 10% territory, but you get the idea. Imagine the following scenario:
AB's start really hard on us, kick a penalty at the 4th minute and lead 3-0
We kick in their 30m and Cruden fumbles the ball, which inexplicably rolls a couple meters before Clerc picks it up and bypasses Cory Jane with one of his moves to land in promised land, Para misses the conversion 5-3 France
Furious and agitated, AB's cant get their shit together for some reason and McCaw gets penalized by the South African referee more than usual. France 8-3
Right before the half, in one of the very few times we're close to their 22m line, Para kicks a magnificent drop goal
11-3 at the half for France.
44th minute, as NZ attacks, a beautiful try by Maa Nonu, great conversion by Piri Weepu 11-10 France
48th minute, Pascal Pape get yellow carded for a flagrant foul on yet another AB offense. Either that or another try. AB's conver the penalty 13-11 NZ
20 minutes of WWI Trench war style, a penalty each 16-14 NZ
68th minute, Cory Jane's pass to Sonny Bill Williams in France's 22 looks like yet another try for NZ, EXCEPT that Rougerie, for once in his life, intercepts the pass and does not fumble it, but instead runs 60 meters before being tackled by Israel Dagg, but some some reason, Rougerie is all of a sudden able to make a pass to Cedric Heymans, who just came in to replace an injured Alexandre Palisson, who zooms to the try zone, easy conversion by Para, 21-16 France.
Idiot French fumble on reception after the ball is kicked from the half line by Cruden, scrum. Evil referee blows his whistle on Nicolas Mas, penalty for NZ, 35m from the posts, slightly on the left. Weepu to kick, and misses!!!
74mn, fear and desperation start to show in AB's eyes. Images of 1999, 2007 start flashing in their tired brains. Yet they muster the energy to launch another brilliant attack, Yachvilli nearly intercepts a risky pass by Owen Francks, but misses it. Referee who must have had bad French food the night before, whistles another penalty for NZ, this time converted by Cruden. 21-19 France.5 minutes to go, France resists like in Verdun and wins the world cup...
Another bad day for NZ against the French underunderunderdogs and we win the World Cup for the first time ever...
Now how about that?
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Final is on sunday, not on saturday
Yes, it sounds possible. Would be great if France could join the restricted club of the northern countries having won a WC, that would make two members… On the other end it would be cool for the kiwis to win in their own country.
All in all, I am just looking forward to a good game with teams trying to do something and not just scoring drops and put everything in defence from then on...
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that´s very true!!
GB!
pas mal de fenchies sont installés sur NY! et les bistros-restos qui vont avec! renseigne toi!
putain, on a pratiquement aucune chance!
mais je sais pas pourquoi, j´y crois à mort!
on a un pack!@redchris:Great final in prospect.
France will have to produce something special, play a lot better than yesterday.
They actually played better without the ball, which is probably not a bad thing against the All Blacks
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What would happen if the opposition turns their back during the haka showing no respect what so ever.
I think you just answered your own question. It's just disrespectful.
I reckon the french boys should respond with a hearty can-can.
M. Bougard…what an incredible imagination you have! You should ask what the odds are that it happens EXACTLY as you've just said...
I personally see it more like this:
Whistle signals kick-off....the ABs run straight up-field and score a fabulous try...the french (as they have been known to do) roll over and surrender allowing the All blacks to rack up a world record total without reply (110 - 0). Game over.
I wonder which of us will be proven correct? Having spent 6 months in NZ, and knowing how much rugby means to them (like the welsh) I have to say I hope the ABs come out on top. Would love it if the french turn it on though and give them a run for their money.
All in all, an exciting final in prospect...Over to you M. Bougard;) -
What would happen if the opposition turns their back during the haka showing no respect what so ever.
wrong thread, mate, this is a RUGBY thread, not a soccer one!!! Rugby is a very clean sport played by gentlemen, who shake hands after the game, fight once in a while but never ever ever behave like hoodlums or gangsters or divas (hint hint), they never dive, never fake, never ever ever dispute the referee's decisions (however unfair like last week), man, dont you wish soccer was as clean as Rugby? And dissing the haka is not even an option. It's too beautiful anyway, and Rugby is about beauty (yes, beauty!), grace (did I say grace? I freaking did!), brains, and guts, and strength, of course. It is also about love. Yes love: how can one human put himself through so much pressure and sometimes pain for the sake of his team if he does not have love for his team mates? Dont get me wrong, and dont misinterpret this, it's the love that makes you reach higher heights so your buddy can score a try. Positive energy, ego stays at home.
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Didn't think it disrespectful, but Les Bleus made a good fist of staring down the Haka at the last WC.
I recall a certain Mr. Chagall looking particularly terrifying.
Did you not mean Sébastien Chabal?
Chagall was a painter… Chabal is the beardy guy. Not in the WC this year because although a very good player it never really worked out in the national team when he was playing.