Bodiddly says...

I don't believe that Paul O'Connell or Big and Dull as he is affectionately known, gets anywhere near this week's pick. Take away his prowess in a very efficient Irish line-out and you have a pretty basic second row player, a bit clumsy but fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time for an offload. Julian Pierre was an example of athleticism from a big man but it seems there's a real effort to avoid a clean sweep by the French in this line-up.

Token Gestures for the home countries such as Roberts over Jauzion!? Roberts back to his Lions form? Someone in your office watched the Welsh match having had a few too many. Roberts took the ball up a few times as part of rehearsed moves practised time after time on the training field. No great skill involved there and ultimately nothing came from any of his predictable runs. I take it you're ignoring his defensive lapses, one of which afforded the Irish a try? Roberts has made it quite clear this season that he is a very limited player who lacks awareness along with basic link-playing skills and should really go back on the wing where he began. Not enough vision or ability to take advantage of such a creative position.

French head and shoulders above everyone. Allez les Bleus

Posted 13:23 16th March 2010

JeanLucJoinel says...

Roberts ahead of Jauzion? O leary ahead of Parra? Not on this weekends perfomances.

In fact I can't see a single player from any of the other five nations making it into the current french team on merit - tommy bowe being the only possible exception but France are not exactly short of class wingers.

Posted 01:00 16th March 2010

sebbb says...

Poor Italy, if their lot isn't bad enough Bluelion now doesn't even rate them as a championship team. A Grand Slam by definition is victory over everyone, though as an Italian victory was less likely than stigmata from a stone perhaps he has a point about media laziness. Maybe something along the lines of France avoided any injuries heading into the Grand Slam decider would be more apt.

*England's chances of victory seem similarly as unlikely as Italy's

Posted 17:31 15th March 2010

bluelion says...

"...while France moved one step closer to a Slam."

France didn't move any closr to the Slam. They moved closer to the Championship and to a possible clean sweep. Italy are not part of the Grand Slam.

This has been repeated in the media all week-end. Planet Rugby, where are the standards?

Posted 13:15 15th March 2010

UBA05 says...

'France nations: France team of round France'

Posted 10:55 15th March 2010