New Zealand -v- France

Steffano2002

Did you guys see the All Blacks team Graham Henry has chosen?

Here it is:

McDonald - Rokocoko, Toeava, Mauger, Sivivatu - Carter, Weepu - McCaw (cap), Masoe, Thorne - Williams, Jack - Hayman, Mealamu, Woodcock

Bench: Hore, Tialata, Flavell, So'oialo, Leonard, Evans, Nonu

We are going to get hammered!!!

I'm thinking 70 - 10 or something like that... Not looking forward to it at all!

burnedfaceman

henry said in his press conference, he wants his team to lay down a marker for the tri nations and WC with this selection i think they are going to do just that and back up their credentials as wc favourite, am predicting a 30point+ victory

Steffano2002

30point+ is being optimistic for France (or pecimistic for NZ...).

I mean, come on, even Magne is playing! It's going to be painful to watch... Might actually give it a miss!

daveirl

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RuggieBear

france by 5:p

Linford

If the bookies offer around NZ -30, like they gave SA -28 at the weekend, it could be another good punting weekend

shoutman

Whens this match on, is it on skysports? Cheers

burnedfaceman

its on ss1 at 9.30ish on sat morn

Steffano2002

burnedfaceman wrote:

its on ss1 at 9.30ish on sat morn

It's actually on at 8:00AM (KO @ 8:35AM) on Saturday morning, Sky Sports 1.

Enjoy the trashing!

daveirl

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Funkstard

Henry was giving out earlier about teams fielding second rate players - what about when he completely changed the side against us last year?

Steffano2002

Funkstard wrote:

Henry was giving out earlier about teams fielding second rate players - what about when he completely changed the side against us last year?

Very true that! He's an idiot anyway...

Isnt Thomas Castagnaide playing as well?

Kerrazy

Steffano2002

Deleted User wrote:

Isnt Thomas Castagnaide playing as well?

Kerrazy

Indeed he is. But I don't think a single man will make a huge difference to this game...

razorblunt

new zealand by 10!

sticking my neck on the line a bit!

zAbbo

France by 5 :eek:

Someone has to beat those arrogant baxtards

Endurance Man

I would probably bet on New Zealand but i would still wonder whether that very odd French attack might catch the zealanders off gaurd, we saw how Ireland got caught off gaurd last year.

Sangre

We also saw how NZ hammered France, twice.

Steffano2002

Sangre wrote:

We also saw how NZ hammered France, twice.

You should have wrote: "We also saw how NZ hammered France's first team, twice."

Imagine what they'll do to that one...

Pinetree Boy

Funkstard wrote:

Henry was giving out earlier about teams fielding second rate players - what about when he completely changed the side against us last year?

Remind me of the score again. Don't know if you would have wanted to face the "first rate" players.

daveirl

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Pinetree Boy

You can't compare the NZ team that played Ireland to the SH teams being sent here.

First test Irelend 10 June 06

Muliaina
Rokocoko
Howlet
Nonu
Mauger
McAllister
Kelleher
So'oialo
McCaw
Rawlinson- replaced by Flavell
Jack
Holah
Hayman
Mealamu
Dermody- replaced by Tialata

Only three players not in this years shadow world cup squad (two of whom were replace by players who are). I am sure the Irish team that day didn't think Henry was doing them any favours.

Funkstard

Pinetree Boy wrote:

You can't compare the NZ team that played Ireland to the SH teams being sent here.

First test Irelend 10 June 06

Muliaina
Rokocoko
Howlet
Nonu
Mauger
McAllister
Kelleher
So'oialo
McCaw
Rawlinson- replaced by Flavell
Jack
Holah
Hayman
Mealamu
Dermody- replaced by Tialata

Only three players not in this years shadow world cup squad (two of whom were replace by players who are). I am sure the Irish team that day didn't think Henry was doing them any favours.

Sorry, should have said Autumn '05. 15 changes to a team after beating Wales? And he berates NH teams for doing the same?

http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_5058.php

Pinetree Boy

12 Nov 05 ????

McDonald
Howlet
Siviatu
Nonu
Mauger
Evans
Weepu
Tuiali'i
McCaw
Williams
Eaton
Lauaki
Afoa
Mealamu
Woodcock

Four players not in this years squad including Eaton injured. The other 3 are in the junior all blacks. In 2005 NZ sent the best available. The fact was that Henry could field two teams the equal of anything in the NH.

Funkstard

Even still the aim of the managers on this tour remains the same as his; to field players in order to develop them for the world cup. I just find it hard to believe he can publicy speak out against managers for doing what he has done recently. Anyway this is OT, better cut it off

Pinetree Boy

AND the score has everything to do with it. 45-7 against Ireland and 41-3 against Wales hardly suggests that Henry took an understrength squad.

Pinetree Boy

Funkstard wrote:

Even still the aim of the managers on this tour remains the same as his; to field players in order to develop them for the world cup. I just find it hard to believe he can publicy speak out against managers for doing what he has done recently. Anyway this is OT, better cut it off

The French are not developing players. Henry's point was that the IRB are yet again sitting on their hands and allowing clubs to dictate. NH rugby will not develop unless internationals come first.

Linford

Didn't Henry have two different international teams playing at more or less the same time last summer, one against Ireland in NZ and one that travelled to play Argentina?

Steffano2002

Pinetree Boy wrote:

The French are not developing players. Henry's point was that the IRB are yet again sitting on their hands and allowing clubs to dictate. NH rugby will not develop unless internationals come first.

That's pure BS as far as I'm concerned. To me, Club Rugby is far more important and interesting than International Rugby... You talk like Syd Millard...

Pinetree Boy

Perhaps that attitude explains the difference and the gulf between the NH and the SH. Down here we only care about the Super 14 until the tests start- then couldn't give a toss.

daveirl

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