J_HDK says...

Dear PSA, ... keep up the good work.. (at least until after the Ireland game). And whatever you do; don't let Michalak out of the starting XV or off the pitch during the match no matter what he does, he is clearly the future of French rugby and must be kept in the team at all costs in preparation for the next world cup.

Posted 04:03 10th February 2013

TVaddict says...

Can no one else do grass? Please hire some English groundsmen to maintain your pitches because they are not in acceptable conditions!

Another dire game from both teams with Wales being the least worse rather than being better. Breakdown again not refereed, though not a surprise with Clancy as ref. Lots of handling errors, no interesting lines run, just bosh bosh bosh from both teams. In terms of the performance both teams lost, so both have a lot to work on.

Is it me or does the French team look like they've all just met? I've seen Barbarian teams with more organisation. Surely now Parra will start, Michalak will be dropped, Fofana brought in at inside centre, and an actual fullback picked at 15?

Wales had some great performers in Roberts, Jenkins, Halfpenny and Jones who really carried the team. The same can't be said of everyone. Adams Jones scrummaging style looked like it was out of a fire safety leaflet with his 'stop', 'drop' and 'roll', amazed he didn't get a card by the end of it. Phillips seemed determined to never pass the ball, so when he finally got round to it the defence were already up. The decision making in attack was also awful, only made less obvious by France making even more awful decisions.

All in all, a bad game for neutrals, bad game for the French, and for the Welsh the positive of a victory but nothing more. Let's hope tomorrow is at least entertaining rugby!

Posted 02:24 10th February 2013

Iyhel says...

Okay, I'll eat my words from last week and admit it: as a French supporter this tournament is over for me. Only saw the first half but I could guess the outcome, with so many occasions butchered there would be no miracle. I blamed the players for last week's defeat but I think this one is for the coach. And I can say I'm optimistic for the months and years to come.

In some way, at least, I'm happy for Liévremont: in 4 years this amateur brought us a series win in New Zealand, a Grand Slam and came 2 points short of committing one of the greatest sport robbery of all times - and one that would have been fully deserved in the day. He discovered Parra, Trin-Dhuc and Picamoles.

I wonder what we'll remember from the oh so professional PSA in three years time...

Oh and how can we go from near perfect refeering one week to such awful displays the next?

Posted 01:04 10th February 2013

dangerous says...

Super rugbys starting up soon... And apart from that I'm painting walls and watching them dry.

Posted 23:42 09th February 2013

neilfromire says...

How poor was Phillips? I've never been his greatest fan (Irish after all), but really getting tired of his aimless box kicks, his slow looping passes which hit behind his man and his poor decision making when taking ball into contact. Shadow of the player he possibly once was. Thought Lloyd Williams changed the game in the last two matches when he came on.

Posted 23:33 09th February 2013

rugbyheim says...

Huget! - went for the glory instead of passing that ball to Fofana. Who know's what would've happened if he had passed that ball. Rubbish game all round from Les Bleus

Posted 22:21 09th February 2013

trelawney says...

No international rugby should ever be played on this pitch again. It was an absolute disgraceful of an excuse for an international stadium. It is not the first time that the pitch was so bad, I think 2 years ago (maybe even one game last year) it was the same. The owners of the ground and the FFR should be held responsible.

As for Freddie - pathetic. He was responsible for the non-attacking French team, no game plan etc.

Posted 22:13 09th February 2013

makemehappy says...

@1st58 - I know - my argument exactly, bar for the last part of your post. Just going around in circles, so lets just say we agree to disagree!

Posted 22:00 09th February 2013

KiwiRooster says...

When PSA will make the centre position Fofana, Fritz, Bastareaud and Fickou's France will have a lot more bite in attack and nous in defence.

He also needs specialist wingers and fullbacks: Huget and Clerc on the right, O'Connor on the left, Dulin, Buttin, Palisson and Médard (who can both play on the left wing) at fullback.

The flanker and prop positions could do with a bit of fresh blood as well.

Overall it would not take a lot of reshuffling from Saint-André to get France back in that november train. It is just a pity Saint-André screwed it up so bad since then. Is it the result of the French selection committee interfering? That also is so typically French, unfortunately. It is not the French players being poor, it is just their environnement being (...) inadequate. The French Union, Clubs and coach all appear to have a knack for shooting themselves in the foot.

Back to the 6N, the only major cut Saint-André will have to undertake is between Parra and Trinh-Duc. Remember Parra was a 10 before becoming a 9 and I can see why: he shares more common attributes with Aaron Cruden than Will Genia. Quite clearly. So it will have to be one or the other player, but not both.

So far however, Saint-André has been pursuing what Lièvremont had already abandonned and refused to make a tough call. Playing Morgan Parra at number 10 in the RWC 2011 final was no mistake. That moment of clairvoyance from Lièvremont came a little too late. And quite frankly, I do not understand why Saint-André is still keeping both Parra AND Trinh-Duc knowing that they cannot play for each other. It is a complete waste of time and experience for someone else.

If Saint-André consider there are no other worthy number 10 (sorry Wisniewski, Barraque, etc) then at the very least he should replace Parra with Paillaugue at 9 who happens to provide such a good plateform for T-D to express his talent.

Posted 21:52 09th February 2013

exlondonfrog says...

France is going to win in England, remember tonga 2011, beware, beware...

Posted 21:40 09th February 2013