France v Scotland (pre/during/post thread)

juvenal

France v Scotland
Saturday 14 February 2009 3.00pm (Irish)
Stade de France, Paris
Live on RTÉ2, RTÉ.ie, RTÉ Radio 1; BBC1, BBC Radio 5 Live

France|No.|Scotland
Clement Poitrenaud|15|Hugo Southwell
Maxime Medard|14|Simon Danielli
Benoit Baby|13|Max Evans
Yannick Jauzion|12|Graeme Morrison
Cedric Heymans|11|Thom Evans
Lionel Beauxis|10|Phil Godman
Sebastien Tillous-Borde|9|Mike Blair
Fabien Barcella|1|Allan Jacobsen
Dimitri Szarzewski|2|Ross Ford
Nicolas Mas|3|Alasdair Dickinson
Lionel Nallet|4|Jason White
Romain Millo-Chluski|5|Jim Hamilton
Thierry Dusautoir|6|Alasdair Strokosch
Fulgence Ouedraogo|7|Simon Taylor
Imanol Harinordoquy|8|John Barclay

France Replacements: Renaud Boyoud, Benjamin Kayser, Sebastien Chabal, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra, Maxime Mermoz, Julien Malzieu.

Scotland Replacements: Dougie Hall, Moray Low, Kelly Brown, Scott Gray, Chris Cusiter, Chris Paterson, Nick De Luca.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Tim Hayes (Wales)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

Difficult to see anything beyond a comprehensive French victory. Despite four changes to the team that lost to Ireland in Croke Park, the French boast a back 5 of Stade Toulousain, with Heymans coming in on the wing in place of Malzieu. Florian Fritz will know more about his availability later this afternoon, after being cited for gouging an Ireland player, believed to be Stephen Ferris.

In the pack the French drop the dynamic Chabal, who is replaced by Romain Millo-Chluski, and also introduce new props in Nicolas Mas and Fabien Barcella.

The Scots, having come off a home defeat to Wales on Sunday, make wholesale changes for the team to line out in Paris. Brothers Max & Thom Evans will play for Scotland together for the first time, after being named at starting centre and wing respectively. Also in the back division, Ulster's Simon Danielli comes in to the other wing to replace Sean Lamont.

In the pack, Alasdair Dickinson comes in to the front row, while the dynamic Alasdair Strokosch comes in to the back row in place of Ally Hogg. Scotland will be looking for a much improved performance from the scrum after a very poor display last weekend in Murrayfield.

All in all, I think France will have too much flair and firepower for the Scots. While I think the visiting team selection is a bit stronger, I think it's a bridge too far for them to have a hope of an away victory to a French team who are only likely to improve after last weekend's narrow defeat.

They might score a try or two, but expect fireworks from the French backline.

France 43 Scotland 16

juvenal

Florian Fritz has been cleared of eye-gouging at a hearing today but found guilty of the lesser offence of striking.

As a result, he will miss the Scotland and Wales matches in Paris having received a ban of three weeks.

Benoit Baby comes into the starting XV with Maxime Mermoz taking his place on the bench, with the Clermont-Auvergne player breaking up the all-Toulouse back 5.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2009/0211/1224240971659.html

cruiserweight

Good for Scotland to see the Evans brothers playing, they have both performed very well from what I have seen of Glasgow this year. Had they both been involved from the outset last Sunday the game would have been an awful lot closer IMHO

toomevara

cruiserweight wrote: »

Good for Scotland to see the Evans brothers playing, they have both performed very well from what I have seen of Glasgow this year. Had they both been involved from the outset last Sunday the game would have been an awful lot closer IMHO

Cussiter also looked sharper than Blair when introduced, (don't know how much of that was done to the raft of substitutions in the last 20), and I'm sure I saw Patterson make a break or two and have a run (It may have been a mirage, I was very drunk at the time).....

Colm_OReilly

I can't see anything other than the French kicking the ever-loving sh!t out of Scotland on this one.

France, Ireland, and Wales will all be looking to rack up the points in their matches against Italy, as if my predictions are right (and they have been disturbingly accurate this year) Wales will lose to France in Paris, and I can't predict the Wales-Ireland match just yet.

BUT, assuming we end up with four wins, one loss apiece, points against Scotland and Italy are gonna help a lot.

Noopti

France 37 - 9 Scotland

Stev_o

Id love to say that Scotland have a chance but again until Hadden is kicked out they wont get anywhere. Honestly Scottish clubs have been going great, Glasgow have beaten Toulouse and Birraitiz will Edinburgh continue to improve under Robinson. They have talent in the form of the Evans brother's, Danelli and others but they just lack a world class coach.

Tirabaralla

Folkloristic question: Generally speaking irish people would support Scotland against France?

ALH-06

Tirabaralla wrote: »

Folkloristic question: Generally speaking irish people would support Scotland against France?

Ah yeah of course... I can't speak for everyone here, but I HATE the French rugby team. The amount of damage they've done to rugby in this country in the last few years...!

Imagine how much stronger rugby would be in this country (it's already growing quite quickly) had we won that QF in RWC 2003? We could have feasibly reached the final then... And those two championships that came down to points difference - The ever-lucky French pipped us on both occasions, two years in a row! They always get the bounce of the ball, always score flukey tries... And then there's the arrogance. Grrrr.

Rant over.

cruiserweight

I will be supporting Scotland, but I live in Glasgow and my OH is scottish, so maybe not a typical situation

Diabhal Beag

I expect a Frech win but Scotland could push them to a decent match. I think anything less than a 7 point win would be a disaster for Chabal and Co.

gadaven

i hope the match will be as beautifull as the one in Ireland !

NickNolte

ALH-06 wrote: »

I HATE the French rugby team. The amount of damage they've done to rugby in this country in the last few years...!

I can't say I hate French rugby because they keep beating us. I hate French rugby more because of their arrogant, belligerent attitude. On one hand they and their press are perfectly happy to play childish mind games against us before WC matches and their club players are happy to commit GBH on our captain in a friendly match before we play them in a big international. On the other hand then, they start whining and calling foul when they feel badly done by by refereeing decisions. Or they throw their toys out of the pram and threaten to leave the HC when their teams underperform. The French and Welsh are the 'English' of NH rugby. I love watching both teams getting beaten at any given opportunity.

To answer Tirabaralla's questions - yes, I'm up for Scotland. Although I can't see them winning. :pac:

big dan

NickNolte wrote: »

I can't say I hate French rugby because they keep beating us. I hate French rugby more because of their arrogant, belligerent attitude. On one hand they and their press are perfectly happy to play childish mind games against us before WC matches and their club players are happy to commit GBH on our captain in a friendly match before we play them in a big international. On the other hand then, they start whining and calling foul when they feel badly done by by refereeing decisions. Or they throw their toys out of the pram and threaten to leave the HC when their teams underperform. The French and Welsh are the 'English' of NH rugby. I love watching both teams getting beaten at any given opportunity.

To answer Tirabaralla's questions - yes, I'm up for Scotland. Although I can't see them winning. :pac:

You're spot on there. One thing I'd say is the French fans I've met and sat beside at matches are sound and I always have good craic with them. With that said, C'MON SCOTLAND

pickarooney

cruiserweight wrote: »

I will be supporting Scotland, but I live in Glasgow and my OH is scottish, so maybe not a typical situation

I ilve in France, with a French OH (other half, not out-half, right?) and will be supporting Scotland in the hope they put France out of contention. Likewise I'll root (quietly) for England against Wales.

LilOc

NickNolte wrote: »

Or they throw their toys out of the pram and threaten to leave the HC when their teams underperform.

Gosh. Been reading loads of uninformed BS haven't you? Replace the end by "when a blatant parody of justice (coming after a dozen of other cases sucked up in silence...) threatens the career of a club player (who's not even French!), Marius Tincu, because a Welsh one who wasn't able to see "whodunnit" said he suspected Tincu had eye-gouged him..."

As for O'Dricoll, he was punched by a Kiwi Mikaera Tewhata in this match against Bayonne. Would be rich for people accusing us of building conspiracy theories out of the blue to build one as well.

Now, "belligerent attitude", "flukey tries"?!!! WTF?!

I'm used to being called arrogant because of my nationality even before i've opened my mouth or done anything (let alone when i dare to respond to provocation oh oh...) now so this one was predictable but...

Well, changing my perspective on Irish fans to say the least!

Hopefully our guys will show a more belligerent attitude to their usual over-soft one and score loads of flukey tries this weekend! Allez Les Bleus!

sm.org

ALH-06 wrote: »

Ah yeah of course... I can't speak for everyone here, but I HATE the French rugby team. The amount of damage they've done to rugby in this country in the last few years...!

Imagine how much stronger rugby would be in this country (it's already growing quite quickly) had we won that QF in RWC 2003? We could have feasibly reached the final then... And those two championships that came down to points difference - The ever-lucky French pipped us on both occasions, two years in a row! They always get the bounce of the ball, always score flukey tries... And then there's the arrogance. Grrrr.

Rant over.

You hate them because they had a better team then us?? I love watching the French play , they're like the Welsh but with some class.

All good teams have to be arrogant.

NickNolte

sm.org wrote: »

All good teams have to be arrogant.

Nah, they just have to play good rugby.

Not sure where all this hate is coming from. You cant help but love the French, in spite of our past close calls.
They play an attractive, positive style of rugby and the Irish-French matches are always entertaining regardless of the outcome.

After the Irish, I always support the French. Ya gotta love em.

LilOc

NickNolte wrote: »

Nah, they just have to play good rugby.

Well said!

For once...

I always support the Irish (except against my team) because i love the country and think they deserve to win something with this generation of players.

The team i "hate" is Argentina. I find it horrible that they always play such a negative rugby, trying their best to prevent the opposition to play their game rather than create, especially when they have the means to do so with such talents as Corleto, Borges, Juan Martin Hernandez and co, plus maybe the most feared pack in the world as a basis as well! But i admire their passion and am happy to see them cimenting their place in the top 8 teams (even if they always beat us haha).

Crash

I don't have a Scottish jersey of any sort, so i'll have to support the French - that and they generally play very nice, fun, interesting to watch rugby. Only way i'd support the Scots in this one is if they really turn on something magic.

irishbucsfan

LilOc wrote: »

The team i "hate" is Argentina. I find it horrible that they always play such a negative rugby, trying their best to prevent the opposition to play their game rather than create, especially when they have the means to do so with such talents as Corleto, Borges, Juan Martin Hernandez and co, plus maybe the most feared pack in the world as a basis as well! But i admire their passion and am happy to see them cimenting their place in the top 8 teams (even if they always beat us haha).

I LOVE Agentina. They inspire my play if I'm honest. They are so disruptive and aggresive in defense. That pack just makes my mouth water, the way they can disrupt even the most skillful of teams and bring them down a level into a real fight is brilliant to see.

If I can ever play in a team that can implement a rush defense even half as well as the Argies have over the past few years I'll be a very happy man.

Although, I can understand that to someone who doesn't appreciate the finer intricacies of tight rugby would detest them!

Erin Go Brath

France will tear Scotland a new one. I predict 7 tries for les blues.

kpnuts

Allez les Bleus!

(cheering through my pocket)

NickNolte

LilOc wrote: »

Gosh. Been reading loads of uninformed BS haven't you?

No.

And off we go. France to win by 15 I'd say.

Diabhal Beag

Scotland not too shabby ATM

anonymous_joe

France don't look as assured as they did against us.

Can't see them losing this though. They've got more talent in a lot of positions.

NickNolte

Scottish pack getting knocked about but they've recovered well.

Orizio

Scottish playing well, nearly had a try in the corner.

NickNolte

French lineout in shambles.

MikeHoncho

French scrum looks very strong.

I am pie

Good start for Scotland but ultimately their woeful scrum won't give them a solid enough base to convert chances.

Orizio

Lots of handling errors from both teams.

juvenal

Decent start by the Scots, much improved on last week. The French scrum is already demolishing them, although their line-out is a bit of a shambles. Both the Evans brothers look lively, and Strokosch is going to have a huge amount of carries. Scotland are playing the right sort of game, but I think that the pressure of the French, coupled with the amount of tackles the Scots will have to make, will mean that I can see the French really pull away in the last 20.

Decent game so far, despite the errors and the scrappiness, also considering there's been no score!

juvenal

Beauxis penalty after missing his first from an almost identical position.

23mins: France 3 Scotland 0.

BOHSBOHS

just say it ryle ...u think beauxis is a chubby

This match is bollocks. A real snooze fest. Nothing flowing.

Erin Go Brath

France are woeful. Ireland must have knocked the stuffing out of them.

gnolan

Ha, dja hear Rile:

"This is becoming a kicking game of tennis!" What Rile? Stick to your usual, "that's halfway!!"

juvenal

Agree, now it's just sh*te!

Two penalties after 34 minutes, who'd have thought it. Godman just pulled Scotland level.

34mins: France 3 Scotland 3

Sherifu

zzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ

Jayziz Beauxis, having a howler

Erin Go Brath

Dire game. Scotlands indiscipline is costing them

juvenal

I almost tempted to switch over the the FA Cup :eek:

Half time: France 6 Scotland 3. The French need a serious kick up the hole.

Orizio

juvenal wrote: »

I almost tempted to switch over the the FA Cup :eek:

Half time: France 6 Scotland 3. The French need a serious kick up the hole.

I know! I'm actually studying, the tediousness of this game is driving me too a new low...

NickNolte

I find this game fascinating. As boring as it is, I'm amazed France seem to have run out of steam already. There's absolutely no leadership in the French team. They look like Ireland in WC 2007.

Myriad of forward passes missed

kpnuts

LOL two forward passes AND crossing. About as fortuitious as the penalty award at Croke Park on Wednesday night. But as a France backer on the handicap I'm not complaining!

juvenal

Try France - still very scrappy, and I thought there was at least crossing/forward pass at the end there. Still given though, and Beauxis slots the conversion from a tight angle.

Edit: France then immediately give away a penalty after the restart, which Godman does well to convert.

49mins: France 13 Scotland 6

NickNolte

kpnuts wrote: »

LOL two forward passes AND crossing.

Blatant as well.

crisco10

juvenal wrote: »

Edit: France then immediately give away a penalty after the restart, which Godman does well to convert.

49mins: France 13 Scotland 6

Swarevski gives away the penalty in idiotic fashion, same as he did last week against us!

Another french pen. 16 - 6