French written off.... Heard that one before in a WC.

I'm not sure how the average England fan feels about tomorrow mornings quarter final against the French, but the English media are already eyeing up the winner of the Wales, Ireland game.
Out of all the teams to be written off, France are surely the team you can never take for granted. Ask new Zealand. Brian Moore and the rest of the awful talksport WC team are soooooo confident, as are several former players.
Ok. France look in disarray. They lost to tonga. They have a scrum half playing 10. They also have a fantastic back row and class out wide. This game is a one-off and if englands confidence is just coming from how poor France look, they are in for a big fall. I mean England don't even know wholl be taking their place kicks. They give away penalties for fun and only just got past Argentina and Scotland.
The most predictable team in world rugby against the least predictable.
This is going to be a cracker and I fancy France to get off to a flyer and SHOCK the not so mighty English.

If i was an england i fan would be very nervous....it would be just like france to bounce back with a brilliant performance!

you know I thought long and hard about this match, and I cam to the conclusion this is the French.

No matter how poor they have been in the Pool rounds, they must have one good match in them, and if it isn't this one they are going home.

The French love the world cup, it is when they upset teams and they love to perform when they have been written off.

I took a chance and predicted a comfortable French win on sportsguru, I am taking a huge chance, but something tells me it ain't gonna go the way everyone thinks.

Never write the French off, as said it's likely they'll put in a hell of a performance.

Gonna be a good game though, as are all of them.

People tend to judge a team by their last game, and it's true that against Tonga, France were desperate and looked beaten mentally long before the final whistle. However, they put in an awesome 10 minutes against the All Blacks, slipped off for a quarter of an hour and found the game was gone. No-one will take beating the French for granted - they just have too much talent for that.

After they lost to Italy in Rome they came out with a great performance against Wales.

Expect the same.

England often appear to look as though they underestimated the opposition. So far in this competition they have scraped through with unexpected late tries.

I think you'll find that the team aren't taking anything for granted. As usual, its the media hyping up the match and England's chances and muppetry jumping on the bandwagon. If the cap fits.

I hoping they save their 'good performance' for the semi

Are people still paying attention to what the media are saying? France beating England would hardly be a shock would it? Against the run of form but that means little once you're out of the pools.



EDIT: In fact aren't most people saying England are Poopie and incapable of upping the game whereas the French have quality all over the field? Surely it'll be a shock if England win?

As an Englishman I am definitely not writing off the French. There is too much class in the French side for me to underestimate them. Also I am unhappy with Martin Johnson's team selection so no I am not that optimistic. If Martin Johnson had selected well I would be confident of victory.

The English media are writing the French off, not your average joe rugby fan on here. There are subtle differences! I believe England will win but I can also see a typical french revival and them giving us a beating. Nerves? Bloody right....

HammerofThunor wrote:I hoping they save their 'good performance' for the semi

Are people still paying attention to what the media are saying?

This article is living proof that quite clearly, they are. Mighty dull it is n' all.

So far in this competition they have scraped through with unexpected late tries..

In two games against tough opposition. Aye, well done...

Hey bitter beer.
Read the article. I'm not listening to the media and agreeing with them. I've stated that I fancy the French. I'm just asking the question, that are the English fans as confident. Clearly they aren't.
What's mighty dull is so called experts completely writing off the French and we've got to listen and read the garbage they're spouting. To them. England will win, because France are in complete disarray. Not because England have offered anything in this tournament so far.
It's a discussion. Simples!

This article just sums the welsh up perfectly. You are facing your biggest game for twenty odd years and you are thinking more about who'll beat England. Awesome.

manofgwent wrote:Hey bitter beer.
Read the article. I'm not listening to the media and agreeing with them. I've stated that I fancy the French. I'm just asking the question, that are the English fans as confident. Clearly they aren't.
What's mighty dull is so called experts completely writing off the French and we've got to listen and read the garbage they're spouting. To them. England will win, because France are in complete disarray. Not because England have offered anything in this tournament so far.
It's a discussion. Simples!

No you don't. I've managed to get by without doing it. No idea what the media are generally saying apart from what is posted on here. It's wonderfully refreshing.

manofgwent you Celts do build up the French though.

It's because you have such poor records against them in recent years.

Celts build up France to be world beaters.

English media writes off France.

Normal English rugby is realistic - you would expect an English win but is not a foregone conclusion.

manofgwent wrote:Hey bitter beer.
Read the article. I'm not listening to the media and agreeing with them. I've stated that I fancy the French. I'm just asking the question, that are the English fans as confident. Clearly they aren't.
What's mighty dull is so called experts completely writing off the French and we've got to listen and read the garbage they're spouting. To them. England will win, because France are in complete disarray. Not because England have offered anything in this tournament so far.
It's a discussion. Simples!

Your artical is little more than a thinly veiled cheapshot at England.

We came through our group undeafeted and had two very tough games in Scotland & Argentina. Yes we are not firing on all cylinders and the fans want to see more and better. But no one is taking the French lightly. When aren't the French falling out with each other is more the question!? I'm quite sure that once they are facing off against Les Roastbeef they will put their differences aside and come out and play.

Toadfish wrote:This article just sums the welsh up perfectly. You are facing your biggest game for twenty odd years and you are thinking more about who'll beat England. Awesome.

Yes of course, one post by a Welshman about England versus France must mean that all Welshmen care more about that match than about Wales v Ireland. Faultless logic.

maestegmafia wrote:After they lost to Italy in Rome they came out with a great performance against Wales.

Expect the same.

England often appear to look as though they underestimated the opposition. So far in this competition they have scraped through with unexpected late tries.

I'll take a scrape through win all the way to the final.

If anything I think we gave Argentina & Scotland too much respect and dropped into a defensive mindset when we should have attacked from the get-go, kind of how we did in the last 20 to win both matches.

I knew you'd come back with that, but I'm not going to not listen to the radio today. I want to know what's happening in the world and I want sports news. I just have to put up with a little nonsense being talked.

England written off ...heard that one before in a WC

I'm not sure how the average Wales fan feels about tomorrow mornings quarter final against the Irish, but the Welsh media are already eyeing up the winner of the England, France game.
Out of all the teams to be written off, Enland are surely the team you can never take for granted. Ask France. Token Welshman and the rest of the awful talksport WC team are soooooo confident, as are several former players.
Ok. Wales look in disarray. They lost to SA. They have a winger playing 15. They also have a fantastic back row and an Englishman out wide. This game is a one-off and if Wales' confidence is just coming from how poor Ireland look, they are in for a big fall. I mean Wales don't even know wholl be taking their wives home. They give away tries for fun and only just got past Samoa and Fiji.
The most predictable team in world rugby against the least predictable.
This is going to be a cracker and I fancy Ireland to get off to a flyer and SHOCK the not so mighty Welsh.
.

Neither team has had a big performance, but they haven't needed too. I think both will play their best games tomorrow.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

Toadfish wrote:This article just sums the welsh up perfectly. You are facing your biggest game for twenty odd years and you are thinking more about who'll beat England. Awesome.

Yes of course, one post by a Welshman about England versus France must mean that all Welshmen care more about that match than about Wales v Ireland. Faultless logic.

Regardless, Its the inescapable truth.

Metal tiger.
What are you talking about. I can't wait for the Irish game. I also can't wait for the French game. To think one of these four teams will be in the final. I've watched all of englands group games. I'm a welsh fan, but I'm a fan of rugby too. I'm hoping that my dragons will be on BBC alba tonight. I'll even watch a game with Gaelic commentary!

biltongbek wrote:you know I thought long and hard about this match, and I cam to the conclusion this is the French.

No matter how poor they have been in the Pool rounds, they must have one good match in them, and if it isn't this one they are going home.

The French love the world cup, it is when they upset teams and they love to perform when they have been written off.

I took a chance and predicted a comfortable French win on sportsguru, I am taking a huge chance, but something tells me it ain't gonna go the way everyone thinks.

Exactly how many times have they won it again?

How many times have they beaten England in it?

How many times do England fans get slated for banging on about world cupo pedigree and relying on cliches as evidence of a side relative chances to win a game?

Lets just be honest here, 3 of the 4 quarters are too close to call...and teh majority of pundits and press agree with that regardless of how desperatly certain people feel the need to try and read it in a way that gives them an excuse to take a pop at anything English ( yet again British press becomes English I notice ...)

Of course we could talk about the arrogance of everyone in assuming that New Zealand will just walk their quarter final. After lal they are notorious chokers (oh whoops)

Bitter Beer, I won't deny that there are some Welshmen who are obsessively anti-English, but please don't assume that we're all so bigoted.

manofgwent wrote:I'm not sure how the average England fan feels about tomorrow mornings quarter final against the French, but the English media are already eyeing up the winner of the Wales, Ireland game.
Out of all the teams to be written off, France are surely the team you can never take for granted. Ask new Zealand. Brian Moore and the rest of the awful talksport WC team are soooooo confident, as are several former players.
Ok. France look in disarray. They lost to tonga. They have a scrum half playing 10. They also have a fantastic back row and class out wide. This game is a one-off and if englands confidence is just coming from how poor France look, they are in for a big fall. I mean England don't even know wholl be taking their place kicks. They give away penalties for fun and only just got past Argentina and Scotland.
The most predictable team in world rugby against the least predictable.
This is going to be a cracker and I fancy France to get off to a flyer and SHOCK the not so mighty English.

I've not listened to Moore on Talksport but in his most recent Telegraph article he most certainly does not write off the French. What he does say is that England are favourites but that the French should be respected and goes on to talk about what England need to do in order to win.

It is actually possible to be confident of victory without disrespecting the opposition you know.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

biltongbek wrote:you know I thought long and hard about this match, and I cam to the conclusion this is the French.

No matter how poor they have been in the Pool rounds, they must have one good match in them, and if it isn't this one they are going home.

The French love the world cup, it is when they upset teams and they love to perform when they have been written off.

I took a chance and predicted a comfortable French win on sportsguru, I am taking a huge chance, but something tells me it ain't gonna go the way everyone thinks.

Exactly how many times have they won it again?

How many times have they beaten England in it?

How many times do England fans get slated for banging on about world cupo pedigree and relying on cliches as evidence of a side relative chances to win a game?

Lets just be honest here, 3 of the 4 quarters are too close to call...and teh majority of pundits and press agree with that regardless of how desperatly certain people feel the need to try and read it in a way that gives them an excuse to take a pop at anything English ( yet again British press becomes English I notice ...)

Of course we could talk about the arrogance of everyone in assuming that New Zealand will just walk their quarter final. After lal they are notorious chokers (oh whoops)

Peter there is no rationale behind my feeling, call it an epiphony whilst smoking something very strong.

Sadly I have that same feeling about SA vs OZ

Islington. You should have heard Moore last Sunday on talksport. He certainly wasn't respectful to the French! That was in a heated debate, where he's been known to lose it before. He's obviously bit more cimposed in his article.

To be fair on Mooore his career is based on a comedy hatred of the french ( and when he was a player winding them upo as much as possible)

As a pundit hes very balanced, youll have heard him slate england often enough. Its hard to be respectful about their performance against Tonga though.

MOG, Brian Moore is the only one on talkpish who actually talks sense. I've listened to him over the past 3 weeks and far from praising England (calling them unbelievably stupid for the ballswapgatething) he's only called a win, not a confident stroll to victory.

biltongbek wrote:you know I thought long and hard about this match, and I cam to the conclusion this is the French.

No matter how poor they have been in the Pool rounds, they must have one good match in them, and if it isn't this one they are going home.

The French love the world cup, it is when they upset teams and they love to perform when they have been written off.

I took a chance and predicted a comfortable French win on sportsguru, I am taking a huge chance, but something tells me it ain't gonna go the way everyone thinks.

Biltong I agree 100%. Everything in this points to a French upset. Poor in the group stages and in total disarray. I think they will be a totally different side to the one that played Tonga. In fact I think this is the game they've had their eye on for the last few weeks.

Logic says England but I really think France will pull off a shock here.

Shocker!

The English/British media write yet more rubbish and lies.

I think the average true England rugby fan won't be writing off the French until the ball sails out of play after the 80mins is up. (by true Rugby fan I don't mean the RWC bandwagon fans who ring into radio shows like Talksport saying that both Jonny and Flood are right and left footed so why doesn't one take the kicks on one side of the field and vice versa)

Pointless article designed to encourage the English haters to respond.

Worry about your own QF!

Rodders, i think you and i have been smoking the same stuff.

manofgwent wrote:Islington. You should have heard Moore last Sunday on talksport. He certainly wasn't respectful to the French! That was in a heated debate, where he's been known to lose it before. He's obviously bit more cimposed in his article.

Yeah i can imagine that actually, he is does have a fair bit of history with the French too which might cloud his judgement in the heat of a debate.

The latest odds i saw had England 4/7 which would make France about 2/1. That sounds about right to me, suggests the betting markets have most definately not written off the French.

biltongbek wrote:Rodders, i think you and i have been smoking the same stuff.

Yup !

BATH_BTGOG wrote:Worry about your own QF!

sorry bud, but the less I think about our quarter final the better for my sanity.

I agree Moore has been the only one talking at least half sense on talk sport.
Alan brazil thought guscott got the winning drop goal in the 03 WC!!!!!

Seems like a lot of wishful thinking from the OP.

France has some outstanding individual players and some of the things they did vs Tonga showed a lot of what they can do. But so much was going wrong and there is no evidence that they will pull things together. England also know how to play against France as well or better than anyone, and are also maybe due a better performance.

Also I'd say that England have had a rock solid defense, and maybe havnt been as bad as a lot of the media have described. The 2 big games they played were against 2 teams notorious for dragging their opponents down to their level, and we found a way around that - if only just. In the same way Wales and Ireland maybe havnt been as good as they like to think.

Shock horror! Welsh and Irish fans predict French win.

The Celts have too much respect for the French.

beshocked wrote:Shock horror! Welsh and Irish fans predict French win.

The Celts have too much respect for the French.

Biltong isn't a celt.

Maybe it's more a case of "the English have too little respect for the French"

manofgwent wrote:I agree Moore has been the only one talking at least half sense on talk sport.
Alan brazil thought guscott got the winning drop goal in the 03 WC!!!!!

You know Brazil !!!

roddersm wrote:Biltong isn't a celt.

Nope, Gatts will tell you i am an elephant hunter.

No roddersm we don't quake in fear like the Irish and Welsh. Yes I know Biltong is a South African.

I was referring to you, dublin and man of gwent.

Surely allot of this logic everyone is applying to the French also applies to the English?

Everyone is saying 'France always have one good performance', and 'never write them off'. Fair Enough.

But its the same for England, they hav'nt set the competition on fire. But they have won all their matches. Some have been very tough, and when England have needed tries to get ahead and they have done that.

The general feeling im getting here is people think France are dangerous as they are on the rebound from a bad loss. But surely a win ratio of 100% makes a team more dangerous than a team with a 50% win ratio so far?

The argument can go round and round on this as theres a case for both teams. My thoughts, England by about 6 as we'll finally find our kicking boots and we'll decrease our penalty count.

beshocked wrote: Yes I know Biltong is a South African.

So whats your point then? Do you think the Boks quake in fear too?

England should play like NZ did (don't laugh!)

Look for an early score but weather the French storm in the first 20mins.

Score again before or just after half time, the French heads will go down, errors will creep in and bar a sustained moment of brilliance by multiple players, England should look to close it out via the boot.

If on Sunday you could swap the nations names in this post to be 100% accurate, I will commit Hari Kari

damage_13 wrote:England should play like NZ did (don't laugh!)

sorry couldn't help myself.....yeah thats my game plan for Ireland too!

I think all eight sides still in the tournament will be looking to get an early score...

SA V Eng final

FACT!