RWC SF: Wales V France, Sat 9am Pre/During/Post Thread

justsomebloke

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Perpignan), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons) Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

France: Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements (from): Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Louis Picamoles, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Marty, Cedric Heymans, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain.


So probably the pick of the semi finals for myself but this will be dependent on which French team show up. Form should see Wales win this but France are easily capable of winning it themselves and it would be foolish to discount them. The deciding factor will probably be the moral in the French camp, if the french team have started to unite against Livermont this may see the standard of play pick up come match day that could see them being to much for Wales

thomond2006

Marty and Picamoles are the players who miss out on the bench spots.

Otacon

Very strong French team. Still dumb-founded as to why Trinc-Duc is again on the bench.

Still think Wales will win this one, but not by much. Hook will need to be on fire.

wixfjord

I really cannot wait to see which French team turns up.
Would be one of the miracles of modern sport for me if they won the whole thing.
I do think Parra at 10 is a big mistake though, and if Wales can force him inside and make him kick as they did with ROG, it could spell trouble.

Pallison v North should be interesting too, as will the battle of the big centres.

Fishooks12

I think Wales may have peaked against Ireland.

Hard to see them getting the same go forward ball off Roberts against a defensively strong French midfield

Not to mention the strength of the French back-row which is more dynamic than ours

[Jackass]

wixfjord

Fishooks12 wrote: »

I think Wales may have peaked against Ireland.

Hard to see them getting the same go forward ball off Roberts against a defensively strong French midfield

Not to mention the strength of the French back-row which is more dynamic than ours

:eek:
It is in me hole!
Dynamism is certainly not one thing we lack, what France have ahead of us is two good groundhogs, and the best all round 8 in the world at the min.

Pudsy33

When Wales knocked us out, I said I'd cheer on our celtic cousins all the way. But as the game gets closer I actually find myself hoping France win the whole thing! Partly because, on form, there is no one better to watch and partly because it would be fcuking hilarious!

Noffles

We've one forced change and it's not too bad if we can bring someone like Hook on... Whether he can stick to the a gameplan is debatable as he seems to play instinctively more often than not which does leave the centres a bit lost at times...

Otherwise more of the same from Wales and hopefully we can come through this one... not getting too carried away though as I and I'm sure plenty of others are, uncertain of what France will turn up....

GerM

I'll be cheering on France for this one purely on the basis of the potential final. I think only one of these sides can beat NZ and it's not Wales. The image of Nallet facing down the haka would be brilliant. France are inside the heads of NZ and you can be sure they will be cheering on Wales in this one.

fitz

GerM wrote: »

I'll be cheering on France for this one purely on the basis of the potential final. I think only one of these sides can beat NZ and it's not Wales.

Exactly what I said to someone earlier.

After the treatment we got as fans down in NZ from the Kiwi's, I'll be shouting from them. I've never felt more welcomed abroad than we were for our 4 weeks there.

Webbs

A worry I have is that Hooks tackling technique is not to put the man to the floor but try to rip the ball, this is at odds with the rest of the defensive setup of Wales and may well lead to him being targetted and leave holes

The_Kew_Tour

COME ON WALES!!!!!!

SuprSi

I'll definitely be cheering Wales. The French have lost 2 games, one of which was more or less deliberate. Regardless of who will play better in the final, Wales deserve to be there more than the French.

JustinDee

SuprSi wrote: »

Regardless of who will play better in the final, Wales deserve to be there more than the French.

You don't earn the right to be in a stage of a comp in any other way than winning each round.
If France win tomorrow then they will deserve to be in the Final and ditto for Wales.

pickarooney

SuprSi wrote: »

I'll definitely be cheering Wales. The French have lost 2 games, one of which was more or less deliberate. Regardless of who will play better in the final, Wales deserve to be there more than the French.

You reckon they deliberately lost to NZ and accidentally lost to Tonga?

SuprSi

JustinDee wrote: »

You don't earn the right to be in a stage of a comp in any other way than winning each round.
If France win tomorrow then they will deserve to be in the Final and ditto for Wales.

You're right in a very black & white way - it's a knock-out competition and the winner deserves to progress, regardless of how they managed to get there. Still, I would feel much worse for Wales if they didn't make it through because out of the two teams only one group of players played their hearts out in each game.

SuprSi

pickarooney wrote: »

You reckon they deliberately lost to NZ and accidentally lost to Tonga?

Eh no, they lost to NZ assuming they'd win the rest of their matches (as anyone else would have expected them to), but it didn't quite work out like that.

JustinDee

SuprSi wrote: »

You're right in a very black & white way - it's a knock-out competition and the winner deserves to progress, regardless of how they managed to get there. Still, I would feel much worse for Wales if they didn't make it through because out of the two teams only one group of players played their hearts out in each game.

If Wales lost tomorrow it would have been because they weren't good enough to beat the French and go one step further in the comp.

I thought that I would be up for France but now I'm not so sure. Just hoping for a good game. Should be given the way Wales are currently playing rugby and France play a pretty open game anyway. Wonder what gameplan Gatland will have against the French. He called it perfectly last week and Ireland couldn't adapt. French are less linear though so don't think that a team could be set out to specifically nullify certain players.

SuprSi

JustinDee wrote: »

If Wales lost tomorrow it would have been because they weren't good enough to beat the French and go one step further in the comp.

I'm not disagreeing with you. What I'm saying is that, based on how each team has played so far, I would feel much worse for Wales if they don't get through. They have played better rugby in almost every game than the French. If they lose tomorrow, tough titty - that's what happens at this stage of a knock-out competition. They still have to show up on the day, they still have to win the games and all their good work so far will mean nothing if they don't win tomorrow.

cgpg5

This is the semi final I'm looking forward to more, and I feel it'll be a cracking game. Don't expect much to separate the sides at the end. Which France team will turn up, is the big question. Regardless I'd expect the French to mix the good and the bad (be dazzling for periods and then awful for other periods) and Wales to be consistent throughout. Don't think there'll be many tries in the game and it could come down to a battle of kicking. Interestingly France have beaten Wales 6 times in their last 7 encounters, however I'm gonna tip Wales to justify their favourites tag and win.. but just!

andrewdcs

If Wales play like they did against us (nails in defense, sniping in attack) I think they'll take it, in a similar way to Aus and SA (and us vs Aus). That'll tip in in their favour.

Wales 20 France 17 a la Hitchcock (tense thriller).

PTH2009

it could of been us :(:mad::(

Think Wales will scrape it and than lose to Austrailia in the final.

BoarHunter

Don't think a semi final is the type of game you want to play some expensive rugby. It's all about the win and experience will be key.

wixfjord

BoarHunter wrote: »

Don't think a semi final is the type of game you want to play some expensive rugby. It's all about the win and experience will be key.

I think that's a bit of a cliche tbh. Wales would be mad to change their gameplan now, and I'd expect France to throw it around like they did against England aswell.
Having the balls to go for it and take risks will be a big thing, and that's a big part of what Wales had over us.

BoarHunter

wixfjord wrote: »

I think that's a bit of a cliche tbh. Wales would be mad to change their gameplan now, and I'd expect France to throw it around like they did against England aswell.
Having the balls to go for it and take risks will be a big thing, and that's a big part of what Wales had over us.

We'll see i wouldn't be surprised that the two teams who play the least find themselves face to face in the final : France - Australia.

The final then will be a totally different game alltogether.

wixfjord

BoarHunter wrote: »

We'll see i wouldn't be surprised that the two teams who play the least find themselves face to face in the final : France - Australia.

The final then will be a totally different game alltogether.

I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make here? If Aus (who, by the way are probably the most expansive team left in the comp in my book!), and France make the final, then they will deserve to.

What I'm saying is that it would be suicide for Wales to switch gameplan and play 10 man rugby, just because it's a semi.
The better team will win, and you've got to have the balls to go for it imo, which we didn't have against Wales.

Sean Bateman

Anyone hear Tom Shanklin's comment?

"This is the most worried about a semi I've been since I watched Brokeback Mountain"

Brilliant

greendom

This current Welsh team is a big step up from England and I think France will need to play for 80 minutes tomorrow and not for 30, like they did in the quarter final.

JustinDee

Sean Bateman wrote: »

Anyone hear Tom Shanklin's comment?

"This is the most worried about a semi I've been since I watched Brokeback Mountain"

Brilliant

When asked to predict the Ireland v Wales game, he said "I'm 100% sure it will be 50/50".

efb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjvKZHJeayg

Micky Dolenz

Best of luck Wales.

Sean Bateman

Sean Bateman wrote: »

Anyone hear Tom Shanklin's comment?

"This is the most worried about a semi I've been since I watched Brokeback Mountain"

Brilliant

guy has a sense of humour for sure!

duckysauce

allez les blues

durkadurka

Gentlemen. I give you this tweet.


@RossOCK See this classic! Tom Shanklin - "last time I was this nervous about a semi I was watching brokeback mountain

circos

Bumping this above the spam threads...god i hate them

walshb

If France and Wales are on form tomorrow France will beat Wales.

The Aussie

walshb wrote: »

If France and Wales are on form tomorrow France will beat Wales.

Hey Walshy, just a heads up mate, Welsh V Frogs is in about an hour, the aussies are being bent over tomorrow

walshb

The Aussie wrote: »

Hey Walshy, just a heads up mate, Welsh V Frogs is in about an hour, the aussies are being bent over tomorrow

Just saw that error. I am waiting for it to come on now. Doh!

What's with the frogs? You now gotta' nickname Wales....

Ry

Of all the times for the RTE live player to be on the blink....

inbodwetrust

Ry wrote: »

Of all the times for the RTE live player to be on the blink....

+ 1

Ry

inbodwetrust wrote: »

+ 1

It MAY come on here http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/worldcup/live.html

chupacabra

walshb wrote: »

Just saw that error. I am waiting for it to come on now. Doh!

What's with the frogs? You now gotta' nickname Wales....

The sheep shaggers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgPlAgP5M8E

The Aussie

walshb wrote: »

What's with the frogs? You now gotta' nickname Wales....

I know, every one else has one, The Aussies, Kiwis, SAFAS, Paddys, Poms, Scotts, Frogs, Wogs.

The Welsh are to boring i suppose*, could make up one seems i hope they have the frogs out of Bro Town in 26 hours

*Cupacabra has blessed them with the ultimate Nick Name, although the Kiwi nation might take offence to any Welsh supporters eying up their walking Kleenex

thomond2006

Allez la France!

inbodwetrust

Still no link on rte live anyone have an idea why?

Benny Cake

inbodwetrust wrote: »

Still no link on rte live anyone have an idea why?

Are the definately streaming it? I cant find anything definitive on the website...

set alarm for 7:45 thinking game kicked off at 8. Panicked badly upon waking at 08:40.

Settled in front of the tv to see the heavens pissing onto the pitch. Devastated, this game deserves good conditions. Potential to be the best game of the year! Neither team will be afraid to try stuff. Fortune favours the brave.

Would love to see Wales getting the ball moving in spite of the conditions though. Come on Wales!

SuprSi

Bucketing down there now, should make it an interesting few minutes

Some serious craic in Millennium Stadium!