ShamanSheep says...

Unfortunately the Ireland win, great though it was, may make this game less intense. France might well come out without all guns blazing because they won't be that disappointed with a loss. NZ will play as they always do, with 100% commitment, the French - they don't need to, they're probably thinking of England and there's nothing wrong with that, its just approaching the game in different ways.

Posted 12:43 20th September 2011

worldwary says...

Dylbull..''All Blacks wont mind losing this one'' !!

Of course the All Blacks will mind losing this one, for no other reason than its a game of rugby! That is the reason that for 100+ years they have been the finest most successful rugby team on the planet.

They dont tactically 'lose' never have, never will. Im pretty sure the All Blacks plan is to play and beat every team put in front of them (or try to) and by doing so prove that they deserve to be champions....not by manipulating the draw

Posted 11:39 20th September 2011

Dylbull says...

Allblacks won't mind losing this one, all of a sudden puts them on the same side of the draw as england and ireland, avoiding South Africa and OZ until the final... just saying

Posted 10:26 20th September 2011

7ton says...

France are such an unpredictable side I do not see the point apart from practicing a few drop goals.

Posted 09:51 20th September 2011

jamesliveinhope says...

I'm not sure that basing your training around revisiting what went wrong 4 years ago is the best way of preparing a side for a match against your bogey side. (a) it removes the focus from what is good about your own game and (b) releases demons that have otherwise receding into the shadows. Get your psych boys into motivation mode yes - but keep it off the training paddock, New Zealand are too good a side to need to worry about French strengths.

Also, with Ireland's win against Australia, the potential QF draw has been thrown open. There is now a possible benefit to losing this game which makes the selection of Parra at 10 less of a risk than before.

Lets not forget the thumoing that England took in RWC2007 when they selected Catt and Farrell in the midfield on the basis that they had played there before. Different circumstances I know but same result.

Posted 08:42 20th September 2011